Chris Hansen Returns to Livingston Parish for Child-Predator Stings
Chris Hansen teamed up with Sheriff Jason Ard in Livingston Parish for a series of sting operations targeting child predators, filmed for his show. In September, the Livingston Parish Sheriff's Office arrested 13 men suspected of trying to meet juveniles for sex.
Undercover Operations by LPSO
These proactive investigations were conducted by deputies from the Internet Crimes Against Children Team. They posed as minors in online chats to identify predators. The men who responded were invited to a house used for the operation, where they were arrested.
Chris Hansen’s Role and Show Details
Chris Hansen, known for the original To Catch a Predator series on Dateline, was present with a camera crew to capture the arrests. He explained the collaboration with LPSO:
“We collaborate and conduct these investigations to put together our show 'Takedown,' which investigates these matters all over the country.”
This was Hansen's fourth visit to Livingston Parish for stings on his show Takedown with Chris Hansen, which streams on TruBlu.
Success Factors of Livingston Parish Operations
Hansen highlighted reasons for the success of these stings:
- Law enforcement's proactive approach
- Desire to apprehend predators before they commit crimes
“I think the results that we see in Livingston Parish have been so successful for a couple of different reasons. One, you've got a law enforcement agency that aggressively is proactive and wants to go after these guys before they actually commit a crime against a child.”
The combination of undercover work and media exposure aims to deter and catch those targeting minors.
Author's Summary
Chris Hansen’s ongoing partnership with Livingston Parish law enforcement highlights effective proactive efforts to prevent child exploitation by catching predators early through undercover stings.