14 Alleged Predators Arrested In LMPD Sting

The Louisville Metro Police Department and the Kentucky State Police have made 14 arrests in a statewide crackdown on sexual predators using the internet to find victims.Operation Bulldog Two is the second wave of the LMPD's predator crackdown and the department's first joint effort with the Kentucky State Police. Arrests are made after officers pose as minors online and set up fake sexual encounters with the suspects.The first effort was in April and yielded 8 arrests. Detective Mike Alterburn says Operation Bulldog will continue."Some guys are slow groomers," he says. "They will feel you out and then escalate the conversation from there. Some take a couple of months, some from the last operation, but we don't let it go. On the other hand, some only take a few minutes."The arrested men are charged with various crimes."It starts with use of electronic means to attract a minor into a sexual act—unlawful transaction, first degree, attempt," says Alterburn. "If they wanted to take photos of the sexual act then it's attempted use of a minor in a sexual performance."Suspects from the first operation are still awaiting trial.