Thursday, October 1, 2026
Twenty-one individuals were taken into custody in Snohomish County this week as part of a multi-agency operation identifying those allegedly involved in the sexual abuse and exploitation of children.
The multi-day operation involved the Washington State Patrol (WSP) and Edmonds Police Department, and local Snohomish County law enforcement agencies – including the Mukilteo Police Department – and several state and federal partner agencies.
"We are proud to have served as the base of operations for this exceptional team of law enforcement professionals and support staff,” said Assistant Chief Josh McClure of the Edmonds Police Department. “It has been our privilege to support this operation and the Task Force's dedicated efforts to prevent child victimization in and around Edmonds. This was an extraordinary demonstration of collaborative, mission-focused public safety."
In an unrelated case in June, Edmonds police detectives, along with Edmonds SWAT team members, served a search warrant at a home in the 9200 block of 224th Street SW in Edmonds at 5:20 a.m.
According to Cmdr. Shane Hawley, a 50-year-old Edmonds man was arrested and booked into the Snohomish County Jail for charges of first-degree dealing in depictions of minors engaged in sexually explicit conduct and first-degree possession of depictions of minors engaged in sexually explicit conduct.
The Snohomish County Prosecuting Attorney's Office will review the multi-agency cases to determine which potential criminal charges will be filed.
Dubbed “Operation Guardian,” this operation was spearheaded by the WSP’s Missing and Exploited Children Task Force (MECTF), a Washington State Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) affiliate.
Since the first operation in August 2015, the legislatively funded MECTF has netted nearly 400 arrests and removed numerous children from danger across the state because of police intervention.
“Our detectives worked tirelessly with our local and federal partners to identify and arrest those who prey on the most vulnerable in our community," said Chief John Batiste of the Washington State Patrol.
"Protecting children from exploitation is one of the most important responsibilities we have as law enforcement officers, and we will continue to pursue these offenders relentlessly.”
The primary crimes investigated are first- and second-degree attempted rape of a child; commercial sexual abuse of a minor; communication with a minor for immoral purposes; sexual exploitation of a minor; and unlawful possession of a firearm.
The names of the individuals taken into custody during the operation:
Anyone with information related to the suspects listed, or information leading to the identity of victims potentially involved in these cases can contact METCF at mectf@wsp.wa.gov.
The collaborative effort involving more than 30 dedicated law enforcement agencies, agents, and staff led to the success of this operation. In addition to the Washington State Patrol and Edmonds and Mukilteo police departments, agencies involved include:
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