A two-day undercover sting in Mandeville led to the arrests of five men accused of trying to meet children for sex — only to discover the “children” were undercover officers with a Northshore task force cracking down on online predators.
Each suspect allegedly initiated contact with what they believed were minors online and attempted to arrange in-person meetings. The arrests are part of a growing regional push to combat child exploitation on the Northshore.
“It is a common misconception that it doesn’t happen in smaller towns,” said Cayla Colwell, child trafficking care coordinator with Hope House, a children’s advocacy center based in Covington.
The Northshore task force, originally created by District Attorney Collin Sims in partnership with Covington police, is now expanding its reach across parish and state lines.
“We’re going to formalize these agreements in the coming weeks,” Sims said in a Zoom interview, referencing upcoming collaborations with agencies across St. Tammany and Washington parishes. “Not only with the attorney general’s office, but also Slidell, Mandeville, Covington, Madisonville, the Washington Parish Sheriff’s Office, Bogalusa, and Franklinton.”
Sims said the task force’s high conviction rate — currently at 95.6% — comes down to “evidence collection and the caliber of investigation.”
Officials say parents play a critical role in prevention.
“Every kid has a tablet or a cellphone,” said Covington Deputy Chief Kevin Collins. “It’s paramount to make sure the people they’re speaking with aren’t saying anything inappropriate or trying to groom them.”
Covington police and the Hope House work together to offer internet safety courses to parents. Colwell says signs of grooming can show up long before explicit messages are sent.
“That could look like asking for personal information, maybe their whereabouts, or secretive details a child shouldn’t share,” she explained.
The Hope House offers regular training for parents, which you can find here. Collins said they’re also working with local school boards to distribute resources to families.
Sims said more arrests are expected as the task force continues targeting those exploiting children across the region.
READ MORE:2-day sting in Mandeville puts five suspects behind bars in child exploitation investigation