That sting was run back in May by Millersville Assistant Police Chief Shawn Taylor and a colorful cast of characters he assembled for the operation.

Among the revelations, the recordings show:

  • Taylor did not involve other law enforcement agencies with more experience in such operations because of his unfounded conspiracy theories that prominent state officials are involved in child sex trafficking.
  • Members of a private group posed online as minors — despite Millersville police being told by prosecutors that the sting would be legal only if sworn law enforcement officers were the ones doing the work.
  • Shawn Taylor told one operative that investigators would be using “pre-signed search warrants,” which would likely be illegal, according to experts.
  • Police arrested one suspect then, when he refused to talk to investigators, they turned him over to the private group for questioning.
  • A Millersville detective boasted that the suspect was being taken to a jail where it was likely that he might not come out alive.

Archived at https://web.archive.org/web/20240717120405/https://www.newschannel5.com/news/newschannel-5-investigates/franklin-politics/disturbing-recordings-from-inside-child-predator-sting-shows-police-maga-operatives-ignoring-laws

  • some_guy@lemmy.sdf.org
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    4 months ago

    Holy fucking shit. This is BAD.

    Two of the men were introduced to the group as “prayer warriors,” who are part of a group that believes the battle against human trafficking is a battle against “demons.”

    Frightening that we have so many of these lunatics in the country right now, pushing and pulling one another further into psychotic delusions.

    “And start whacking some — you know, not to make it political — but whole leftist, corrupt, pedophile, this evil thing that’s taken over Nashville,” Sawyer said.

    The inability to see the difference between pedophiles and your political opponents suggests to me that you aren’t of sound mind to vote, posses firearms, or be around children.

    This shit should be investigated by the FBI. This police chief should be suspended during the investigation, as well as any officers who participated. This kind of bat-shit crazy thinking must not be tolerated in positions of great power over others. This is truly terrifying.

    • rusticus@lemm.ee
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      4 months ago

      This shit should be investigated by the FBI.

      The FBI already investigate LEO across the country more than a decade ago and found that white supremacists were actively infiltrating our police force. Nothing has been done about this finding.

      This is truly terrifying.

      Yes. It is.