"Operation Clean Sweep" surprises Independence sex offenders

INDEPENDENCE, Missouri - Thirty-seven people were arrested, and several computers were seized Friday night when Jackson County Sheriff’s deputies and other law enforcement officers made surprise visits to registered sex offenders in Independence.

Officials said this was the first of many planned countywide compliance sweeps. It’s a zero tolerance initiative aimed at verifying the registration information for 261 sex offenders reportedly living in Independence. Federal and state laws, as well as a Jackson County ordinance, require sex offenders to register with the Sheriff.

Sex offenders may be required to register every 90 days or semi-annually, depending on their conviction. In addition, registration includes a statement in writing signed by the sex offender that includes identifiers, photographs, and information relating to employment, vehicles, computer access, and contact information.

During the Friday night sweep, 76 law enforcement officers tried to locate, verify the information of, and/or gain compliance of the offenders. Of the 261 sex offenders investigated, police found the following:

188 residence checks were made
37 offenders were not in compliance with the law
37 arrest warrants were served
2 weapons violations were discovered, and 28 computers were previewed by officers.

Several of the computers were seized by authorities, and those people are being held on the suspicion of possession of child pornography. The investigations will continue and will be presented for possible future charges at the state and federal level.