Multiple Walt Disney World employees are among 17 suspects busted during an undercover child predator operation in Florida, authorities said. Detectives posed as youngsters on social media apps and online dating sites as part of "Operation Child Protector," which targeted people who prey upon and travel to meet children for unlawful sexual activity, the Polk County Sheriff's Office said in a <a href="https://www.polksheriff.org/news-investigations/polk-county-news/2021/08/03/detectives-arrest-17-suspects-for-preying-upon-children-online-during-operation-child-protector" target="_blank" rel="noopener">news release</a> Tuesday, August 3. Detectives from the Auburndale Police Department, Orlando Police Department, Winter Haven Police Department, and Orange County Sheriff’s Office assisted in the operation which led to 17 suspects being arrested and 49 felony charges. [[youtubewidget||https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZfzEkf_MZWI]] The suspects communicated with detectives who posed as children ages 13 and 14. When the suspects went to meet up with the teens to engage in sex acts, they were taken into custody, officials said. The youngest suspect arrested was 26, and the two oldest suspects were 47, <a href="https://www.nbcmiami.com/news/local/multiple-disney-world-workers-among-17-nabbed-in-florida-child-predator-bust-sheriff/2520228/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">NBC Miami</a> reports. The Polk County Sheriff's Office announced the arrests of 17 people as part of Operation: Child Predator, on Tuesday, August 3. The operation took place between July 27 and August 1, and the arrests were made with the help of several other law enforcement agencies. [[twitterwidget||https://twitter.com/KNX1070/status/1423397655733022721]]  [[twitterwidget||https://twitter.com/RogowskiBubba/status/1423351613746565120]]  "These are nasty, nasty people," said Polk Sheriff Grady Judd, per <a href="https://www.fox13news.com/news/polk-detectives-17-arrested-during-undercover-child-predator-sting" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Fox 13</a>. "We can't even use the words that they used. We obviously can’t show the pictures and video clips that they sent to what they thought were 13-year-old little girls and little boys." Deputies said the suspects all communicated with people who they believed were between the ages of 13 and 14 and solicited sex acts. Investigators said the suspects all showed up at an undercover location at different times to meet the "children," and that some of the suspects also sent pornographic images. The group faces a combined 49 felony charges and two misdemeanor charges. [[twitterwidget||https://twitter.com/wave3news/status/1422958006577336330]]  Among those arrested was a registered nurse and three Disney World employees. What's more, investigators also said two of the suspects reported that they are military veterans. Deputies said one of the Disney World employees told investigators that he worked as a lifeguard at Animal Kingdom Lodge. Cops said when he arrived at the undercover location, he was still wearing his Disney polo shirt, swimming trunks, and Crocs. He also told detectives he is a Navy veteran and has a pregnant girlfriend. "He left his girlfriend who was 7 months pregnant with his child in order to have sex with a 13-year-old," Judd said during Tuesday's press conference. <h6>Featured image credit: VIAVAL / Alamy</h6>

Multiple Disney World employees among 17 suspects arrested in child predator sting

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