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NewsFOX 13 Tampa BaySeptember 2, 2026Hillsborough

Manatee County Sheriff's Office arrests 27 individuals in 'Operation Safe Childhood' sex crime crackdown

The Manatee County Sheriff's Office arrested 27 individuals following a multi-agency investigation into online sexual offenses and registration violations. The operation, which spanned the summer, combined efforts to monitor registered offenders and investigate online predatory behavior.

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Why It Matters

The operation resulted in 27 arrests for sex-related crimes and registration violations, impacting local public safety and the enforcement of sex offender monitoring protocols in Manatee County.

Key Facts

  • The Manatee County Sheriff's Office arrested 27 individuals as part of 'Operation Safe Childhood'.
  • The operation targeted online sexual offenses and registration violations throughout the summer.
  • Detectives screened 105 probationers and reviewed 40 online accounts during 'Operation Match Maker'.
  • 15 sex offenders and predators were found in violation during the 'Operation Match Maker' phase.
  • A separate review of 82 sexual predators resulted in one additional arrest for registration law violations.
  • The operation involved collaboration with state and federal partners, including the Florida Department of Law Enforcement.
  • Community tips submitted via Crime Stoppers assisted detectives in identifying social media profiles and employment details.
  • Sheriff Rick Wells identified Roblox, Facebook Messenger, Pinterest, and YouTube TV as platforms used by predators to target children.

Who's Mentioned

personRick Wells“Manatee County Sheriff”other27“Total number of arrests”other105“Number of probationers screened”other15“Number of sex offenders and predators found in violation”organizationManatee County Sheriff's Office“Law enforcement agency conducting the operation”other40“Number of online accounts reviewed”other82“Number of sexual predators reviewed in the second operation”organizationFlorida Department of Law Enforcement“Partnered in the investigation”