CINCINNATI -- A Hamilton County sheriff's deputy resigned after a Facebook page conducted a sting operation and accused him of trying to meet a 15-year-old "to engage in sexual activity," the sheriff's office announced Friday.
The Facebook page Parents Against Predators Nationwide broadcast the sting live Thursday night. They said that Ryan Parker, 32, had been communicating with someone online he believed was a 15-year-old, sent naked photos of himself and believed they were meeting for sex.
Parker was a deputy assigned to the Jail Services Section, according to the sheriff's office. He resigned Friday.
No criminal charges were on file in Hamilton County Friday. Sheriff Jim Neil launched an administrative investigation into the video and surrounding events.
Parents Against Predators has decoys who monitor online chat rooms, according to Doug Allen, a representative from the group. He said the decoys will mention being 14 or 15 within the first three messages, which makes most people back off.
As for those who don't?
"We're hoping that if they don't get arrested for it, that at least 10-12 thousand people see it and know what's out there," said Dale Cook, who conducted the sting on Parker. "If they do it, we hope that by exposing them, they don't get on the chat rooms and do it anymore."
