A couple of reported incidents of vigilantism in Jackson County in recent days have created problems and concerns for local law enforcement agencies.
Details of those incidents have not been released by police, yet, but they did issue a news release Wednesday about the dangers of vigilantism.
Jackson County Prosecutor Jeff Chalfant said law enforcement is aware “vigilante” individuals have conducted “pedophile sting operations” in which a non-law enforcement citizen entices another person, typically using social media, by posing as an underage girl or boy.
The vigilante citizen then convinces the target to appear at a public place, records the encounter, confronts the target, accuses the target of being a child molester, and posts their “investigation” on social media, police said.
Chalfant told The Tribune there have been several reports of such incidents in southern Indiana and the rest of the state.
“We want to investigate and prosecute sex offenders, but we don’t want the public doing it,” Chalfant said. “It’s extremely dangerous, they don’t know the law and don’t have the training.”
He said such a “sting operation” also could result in violence, injury and death.
Chalfant, who issued the release in conjunction with Jackson County Sheriff Rick Meyer, Seymour Police Chief Bryant Lucas, Brownstown Police Chief Tom Hanner and Crothersville Police Chief Matt Browning, said he could not discuss the reported “pedophile sting operations” in Jackson County because no case has been filed with his office at this time.
He said the prosecutor’s office would not file criminal cases based on investigations conducted by vigilantes.
One of the local incidents was posted on Facebook which prompted law enforcement’s response, Chalfant said.
Seymour Police Department also said it has received several questions pertaining to online groups regarding child solicitation accusations and videos.
“We at SPD make every effort to pursue these accusations, however, the manner in which some of these groups operate create unique issues regarding legal prosecution and the due process of criminal law,” SPD posted on their Facebook page Wednesday.
Chalfant said the public should contact police if they have information regarding a crime so a law enforcement-based investigation can be conducted into the matter.