Detectives from the Washington State Patrol’s Missing and Exploited Task Force (MECTF) arrested a 29-year-old Roy resident Tuesday morning, July 15, 2014, on allegations of Dealing and Possession of Child Pornography.

MECTF detectives discovered 125 files of investigative interest being traded across the internet.  A search warrant was issued for subscriber information on the originating IP address, and that warrant led detectives to obtain a search warrant for a residence in Roy.

During the morning of July 15th, detectives executed a search warrant on a residence on Fielder St S., in Roy and ultimately arrested one of the residents.  During the search warrant, detectives seized multiple digital media devices from the residence, including one belonging to the suspect that was found to contain a sexually explicit video involving a minor.  The collected media devices will be forensically examined by detectives from the WSP High Tech Crimes Unit (HTCU).

Owen D. Gerdes, 29, was booked into the Pierce County Jail on charges of Dealing and Possession of Depictions of Minors Engaged in Sexually Explicit Conduct.

The investigation is ongoing and additional charges are possible.  There was no indication Gerdes had access to any children at this time.

MECTF is a multi-agency task force within the WSP comprised of detectives from the WSP and the Lakewood and Shelton Police Department’s.  MECTF provides support to local agencies across the state in cases involving missing and abducted children and child exploitation.