21 Arrested In Central Fla. Sex Predator Sting
Police Officer Among Those Arrested
FLAGLER BEACH, Fla. — Twenty-one men, including a police officer, were arrested in Flagler Beach in a sexual predator sting to catch men looking to meet children for sex, according to police. The sting took place over a four-day period, and the men who were arrested ranged in age from 19 to 58 years old and most of them were from Central Florida, including students from the University of Central Florida and the University of Florida, police said. The sting was conducted by the Flagler Beach police officers in conjunction with undercover agents from a group called Perverted Justice, whose members attempt to expose sexual predators.
The agents posed online as girls under the age of 16. Two men believed they were communicating with underage boys, according to police.
"Some even sent pictures of themselves — nude pictures in different poses doing different acts," Flagler Beach Police Chief Roger Free said. Todd Spikes, the police officer who war arrested, was from Alabama, according to officials. Police said they found weapons, rope and duct tape in Spikes’ car, but they were not sure what he intended to do with it. "Like any other time, it is a sad day when a police officer is involved in anything illegal," Free said. "It’s amazing the reservoir of evil that surrounds our community is among us," State Attorney John Tanner. Others who were arrested were: Brian Dory, Stephen Holt, a student at Full Sail; and Safraz Khan, a student at UCF, according to police. Police told Local 6 News that they have audio and video surveillance on all of the men arrested along with the online transcripts, and they believe that the charges will hold up in a court of law. Watch Local 6 News for more information about this story.
