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Press ReleaseThe Utah Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force arrested a suspected Internet predator at his Murray home Thursday night after he tried to make a getaway at speeds of more than 100 miles per hour. Jonathan Toole, 26, was booked into the Salt Lake County Jail on suspicion of sexual exploitation and evading a police officer.
"This was a very dangerous situation for the public and potentially to any child who may have been in contact with this suspect," says Attorney General Mark Shurtleff.
Toole had chatted with an undercover agent who was posing as a young girl and had allegedly asked the girl to meet him for a sexual encounter. Toole was confronted by ICAC agents when he showed up at the meeting place. The suspect sped away and reached speeds of nearly 100 miles per hour in a crowded residential area. Rather than endanger the public by chasing Toole, agents worked to track his real identity and secure a search warrant for his home. Agents arrested Toole at his home without incident and executed the search warrant.
"We consider the sexual exploitation allegations to be very serious but chose to follow the suspect's cybertracks rather than put the public in more danger by pursuing a high speed chase," says Ken Wallentine, Director of Law enforcement for the Utah Attorney General's Office. "The suspect did his best to remain anonymous online but dogged investigation uncovered evidence to identify and find him."
The Regional Computer Forensic Laboratory will analyze the evidence seized at the home. All defendants are presumed to be innocent unless found guilty in a court of law.
You can see a video of the man's arrest by clicking here.
(Courtesy of the Utah Attorney General's office)
