Forty-two people have been arrested by the Polk County Sheriff’s Office during an extensive undercover investigation targeting child sex predators, authorities said. Detectives served several search warrants and arrested 18 people who they said engaged in the promotion, possession and distribution of child pornography, deputies said. >>Download the WESH 2 News app for iOS and Android Twenty-one additional arrests were of people who deputies said failed to register as sex offenders. Three others were arrested during the operation, but not for child sex crimes, deputies said. Deputies said a warrant has also been issued for a person accused of possessing child pornography. "Our children are this community's most precious resource. We must do everything we can to protect them,” Polk County Sheriff Grady Judd said.

Forty-two people have been arrested by the Polk County Sheriff’s Office during an extensive undercover investigation targeting child sex predators, authorities said.

Detectives served several search warrants and arrested 18 people who they said engaged in the promotion, possession and distribution of child pornography, deputies said.


>>Download the WESH 2 News app for iOS and Android



Twenty-one additional arrests were of people who deputies said failed to register as sex offenders. Three others were arrested during the operation, but not for child sex crimes, deputies said.

Deputies said a warrant has also been issued for a person accused of possessing child pornography.

"Our children are this community's most precious resource. We must do everything we can to protect them,” Polk County Sheriff Grady Judd said.