3 Arrested In Redmond Sting Targeting Online Predators

REDMOND, WA — A recent Redmond operation netted three men accused of having sexually explicit chats with people they believed to be underage. In a news release Monday, the Redmond Police Department said it started a new initiative targeting suspected online predators in May to "combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse."

The operation led to the arrests of three men from outside King County, including a 49-year-old school psychologist working in Snohomish County, police said. The other arrests included a 46-year-old Tacoma man and a 57-year-old Yakima man. Police said detectives posing as teen girls told each of the men several times that they were speaking with a 14 or 15-year-old, but all three still pressed on with sexually charged chats.

The detectives set up decoy profiles on social networking and dating apps to set up meetings with the men.

The Redmond Police Department identified its most recent arrest as Lance Ray Egli, 49, taken into custody on Friday. Police said the Snohomish County school psychologist faces four counts of "communicating with a minor for immoral purposes."

In early September, detectives arrested Garrett Swanzy, 46, of Tacoma. Police accuse Swanzy of having sexual chats with someone he believed to be 14. Detectives said they used photos provided by Swanzy to confirm his identity as a staffer at a King County hospital, and he was arrested on Sept. 3.

Back in May, police said they arrested Jeffrey Brown, 57, of Yakima, who told undercover detectives he was in the area working in construction. Police allege he sent "sexually motivated communications" for several weeks and proposed meeting up at Redmond's Downtown Park, where detectives arrested him on May 19.

"Children are at risk of being the victim of online child predators anytime they use social networking apps," said Darrell Lowe, Redmond's police chief. "I'm proud of our officers and detectives for their dedication to keeping our children safe. With the increasing number of social networking apps, it is more important than ever for parents of teens to be vigilant about their child's online activity and to have open conversations about appropriate behaviors."