FORT WORTH, Texas — Nearly a dozen men were taken into custody after the Fort Worth Police Department and other agencies conducted an undercover internet sting across North Texas.
Fort Worth police said a total of 11 people were arrested over the course of two days in a sting called "Operation Heatwave" which began on August 7.
The detectives would act as minors online and targeted individuals who wanted to have sex with teenagers under the age of 17, according to a release from FWPD.
The arrested individuals were listed as:
- Alexis Javier Sanchez Monreal, 25, Dallas, TX
- Anthony Harold Knox, 56, Fort Worth, TX
- Cesar Ignacio Hernandez Perez, 31, Arlington, TX
- Craig Bridgland, 42, Brisbane, Australia
- Daniel Carlos Ramos, 40, Fort Worth, TX
- Donte Tejuan Zachary, 44, Fort Worth, TX
- Jonathan Hayden Pond, 33, Fort Worth, TX
- Jose Luis Estrada Jr.,42, Krum, TX
- Joseph Thomas Milarski, 21, Bedford, TX
- Ralph Edward Hoskins, 32, Arlington, TX
- Todd Brian Behney, 53, Fort Worth, TX
“We want to send a clear message: we will not tolerate any attempt to harm our children," said Fort Worth Police Chief Neil Noakes. “I want to thank all the officers and agents involved in this operation for their hard work and dedication."
Officials urge parents to always keep tabs on what their children are doing online and on social media.
"Operation Heatwave" was led by the Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) and included FWPD, Texas Department of Public Safety Criminal Investigations Division (CID), Tarrant County Sheriff’s Office, Haltom City PD, North Richland Hills PD, Irving PD, Keller Police Department, Mansfield PD, Homeland Security Investigations, United States Secret Service, and the FBI.
