Sedro-Woolley, WA – An Alert Sedro-Woolley Police Officer conducting “DUI Emphasis Patrols” on Saturday, December 17th took a 13-year old teen girl into protective custody for her own safety.
According to information obtained from a public information request submitted to the Sedro-Woolley Police Department by Skagitbreaking.com, a Sedro-Woolley Officer was conducting Driving Under the Influence Emphasis Patrols on Saturday, December 17th when the Officer pulled over a car that had been speeding.
During the traffic stop, the Officer contacted two men in their thirties in the vehicle and a young 13-year old teen girl. Something during the traffic stop didn’t feel right to the Officer and the Officer asked extra questions about the relationship between the three individuals in the car.
The teen told Officers that she had met the two men through Facebook, and the three had been smoking marijuana. The Officer said the men were en route with the teen to a hotel.
When questioned, the driver of the vehicle informed Officers he “thought she was 18.”
The alert Officers took the teen into protective custody. Detectives with the Sedro-Woolley Police Department said the case is still open and under investigation.
The website for the Department of Homeland Security, United States Computer Emergency Readiness Team (US-CERT) warns parents that online predators present a significant threat, particularly to children.
The nature of the internet is so anonymous, it is easy for people to misrepresent themselves and manipulate or trick children online. Those factors, combined with the natural characteristics of children, including innocence, curiosity, desire for independence and fear of punishment, present additional challenges to parents when children and teens are online.
US-CERT says parents should be involved, keep your computers in an open area, set rules and warn your children and teens about the dangers lurking online.
Click here to be taken to the US-Cert Website which provides security tips for parents on how to keep your children and your data safe online.
The following websites offer additional information about protecting children online:
StaySafeOnline:
https://www.StaySafeOnline.org
Stop. Think. Connect:
https://www.dhs.gov/stopthinkconnect
https://www.onguardonline.gov/topics/protect-kids-online
Reference: SWPD Case number 16-W08447
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