18 arrested in undercover child predator sting

GLYNN COUNTY, Ga. — Undercover operation “Operation Riptide” targeted online child predators and resulted in the arrest of 18 people, including 5 from Jacksonville, authorities said.

Those arrested traveled from areas around Brunswick and North Florida intending to meet a child for sex, officials said.

The Georgia Bureau of Investigation’s Child Exploitation and Computer Crimes Unit, the Georgia Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force and the Glynn County Police Department made the arrests over a five-day period beginning May 12. Officials said 18 additional law enforcement agencies and prosecutors’ offices participated in “Operation Riptide.”

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“This type of cooperation and collaboration is invaluable in the effort to keep our children safe from predators who seek to harm them. This successful operation was a partnership between all the agencies involved,” said Debbie Garner, GBI special agent in charge and commander of the internet crimes against children task force.

Some of their occupations included a Navy sailor, construction worker, pharmacy student, EMT/fireman, truck driver and food and beverage manager.

Kings Bay Naval Submarine base said the sailor was stationed there for about seven months and had been in the Navy for one year.

“The children in our community need people to keep them safe. We will be their guardian angels. We will look out for them," said Glynn County Police Chief Matt Doering.

The following were arrested and charged in Glynn County: