Columbia Police Join ICAC Task Force, Make First Child Exploitation Arrest

The Columbia Police Department has announced it has joined the Tennessee Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) Task Force, marking a new step in the department’s efforts to investigate crimes involving the sexual exploitation of children.

According to the department, investigators received their first tip through the ICAC Information Center after joining the task force. On Friday, July 31, Columbia police officers and investigators, working alongside the ICAC Task Force, executed a search warrant in Columbia as part of an investigation into the alleged sexual exploitation of a minor.

The investigation resulted in the arrest of a 46-year-old Columbia man who police said had previously been convicted of sex-related crimes against children and is listed on the Tennessee Sex Offender Registry. He has been charged with Aggravated Sexual Exploitation of a Minor and Especially Aggravated Sexual Exploitation of a Minor and is being held in the Maury County Jail. Police said additional charges are expected as investigators continue analyzing evidence collected during the search.

Police Chief Jeremy Haywood said joining the ICAC Task Force will strengthen the department’s ability to identify and hold accountable individuals who target children and praised investigators and partner agencies for their work on the department’s first ICAC investigation.