A vigilante group says police repeatedly declined to assist during an undercover operation targeting a man they believed was an online child predator, despite the group’s claims that they had located and confronted the suspect at New York Myers local park.
The group pleads that the suspect possessed sexually abusive material involving toddlers and told them that he had hundreds of photographs and videos. The group says they believed the information warranted immediate police intervention and enforcement after locating the man.
According to the group, however, officers declined to respond to the location or open a report. Members say they were instead instructed by a sergeant to return on Monday rather than receiving assistance at the scene. This was Saturday. 2-4 times.
Eric Arthurs, identified by the group as the primary undercover specialist , reportedly handled much of the communication and interaction with the suspect. Cameron Panuska helped locate and assisted with camera work during the operation. The group also says a staged telephone call involving the decoy’s mother was used in an effort to encourage police to intervene.
The group says its purpose was to document the encounter, gather information and ultimately turn the matter over to law enforcement rather than take independent enforcement action. They did not come to help.
The incident has prompted criticism from the group over what its members characterize as a lack of police response to allegations involving suspected child exploitation. The group also claims that police acknowledged the area was experiencing a significant problem and had an opportunity to intervene.
The group specifically alleges that a sergeant with the Gloversville Police Department was directly involved in the response.
At this time, no official police statement, arrest record or charging document was provided to substantiate the allegations described by the group. The claims concerning the unidentified individual remain allegations and have not been independently established through law-enforcement records or court proceedings.
The Gloversville Police Department and the officer identified by the group should be given an opportunity to respond to the allegations before any conclusions are drawn regarding the department’s actions or the circumstances of the encounter.
