Description
Seven men were arrested in connection to a child sex trafficking sting operation conducted by Renton police in late September, including an assistant principal at a Seattle school.
The undercover operation targeted individuals seeking to engage in sexual activities with minors.
Deputy Chief Ryan Rutledge of the Renton Police Department explained that officers posed as 14- and 15-year-olds on various social media platforms to connect with potential offenders.
The operation aimed to "target the demand side of those that are seeking prostitution," Rutledge said.
Among those arrested was Alex Diaz Rios, who was working as an assistant principal at TOPS K-8 in Seattle at the time. Diaz Rios was charged with patronizing a prostitute, a misdemeanor crime. According to Rutledge, "The person did know they were talking to a 15-year-old boy."
Read more: https://www.king5.com/article/news/crime/renton-child-sex-trafficking-sting-arrests/281-302a8f03-04eb-4c6e-a96f-278fccb97286