EDMONDS — Twenty-one people were arrested during a multiagency child exploitation operation in Snohomish County as investigators targeted individuals suspected of attempting to sexually exploit children, according to the Washington State Patrol.
The operation, dubbed Operation Guardian, brought together more than 30 local, state and federal law enforcement agencies, including the Chelan County Sheriff’s Office, to identify and arrest people allegedly involved in online child sexual abuse and exploitation. The Snohomish County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office will review the cases to determine what criminal charges will be filed.
Investigators said the operation was coordinated by the Washington State Patrol’s Missing and Exploited Children Task Force, Washington’s affiliate of the Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force. Since the task force began conducting similar operations in 2015, officials said it has resulted in nearly 400 arrests while helping identify and remove children from dangerous situations…