How did we get back? So, we can, you know, so we'll go over this. So, basically what's this is what it is here. Okay. We were contacted by the library cuz a couple kids made them aware of this note that they found in the bathroom. Okay. >> Okay. Uh they advised us they had some concerns regarding the nature behind the note as it's clearly sexual nature. >> It's pretty obvious what it's for. Can I explain that? >> Yeah. >> So, there was a a guy completely of age that I gave that or I put that note um under the the windshield wiper in his car cuz I was too chicken to talk to him. And Then why does it say 18 years of or older on it if you put [clears throat] it on his car? >> Um, just ina just in case somebody else found it. >> And how would it end up posted up in a >> That's why that's why I'm wondering is it was in the bathroom. Was it in the garbage? >> No. And so there's more to it because the kids who found it also called they told us they called the number on the phone. >> Yeah, I did get to I did get a call from somebody and I asked them to throw it away. >> Okay, so fast forward, right? So kind library staff kids are handing them this note. >> They're being told it was posted up in the bathroom. They have concerns because their establishment is primarily frequented by juveniles right down the right down the street from the school. Two schools in elementary and high school. All right. And so that's when Sergeant Floyd first got it. Um and he wanted to vent out if it was something no harm intended as written or if there was something more to be concerned about. And so that's when the text messages started. Okay. And he clearly announced himself as a 15year-old. So why at that point did you not stop communication? >> Well, it it's kind of like I don't I should have You're absolutely right. But in my in my mind, I was thinking, okay, here's a kid that I honestly I I don't know what I don't know what I was thinking. I I thought that it would be might be nice for him to like have somebody to talk to and just so that I could give him reassurance about, you know, that it's okay to to be that way. Um I [snorts] and and at that at that point in it I had I like I didn't know how he had even got my phone number. Like I I was just assuming that maybe he got it off of like Facebook or something cuz it's on my wall. But >> don't you think that's an odd statement, Justin? And I'm not trying to I'm trying not trying to be mean here. >> You you clearly didn't even weren't even curious about where you got your phone number. >> So that tells me that you know where the note was left. >> No, it was No, that's not not at all. >> You see how this looks? >> I I I do see how it looks. And >> the notes posted up in a bathroom at the library and then you get text messages >> that mortifies [clears throat] me to >> you get text messages from an unknown person who says they're 15 years old and you just communicate with them like as if you're like hey where you know when when people when a reasonable person gets a text message from somebody they're like who's this how'd you get my number [snorts] >> but you didn't you just continued communicating >> well my My thought process was was basically it was [sighs] I I don't even know. I don't even know what I was thinking. Okay. >> Well, I was just trying to be like >> and you have to admit some of the things you messaged were >> there was a couple things that I did say, but I was just trying to give him I was just trying to tell him like about one of my experiences when I was first getting started when I was young, when I was his age. >> Mhm. and just to kind of give it make him feel comfortable and then you [clears throat] know so that he could talk to me and if he wanted to and but it wasn't it wasn't like I was going to [clears throat] engage with a child it it was more I was just [clears throat] okay you say that >> but after 15year-old being brought up that the kid's 15 you're sending questions like, "What excites you?" Now, now let's really think about this. If you were truly just interested in counseling this kid because maybe you do connect with [clears throat] them, right? I can see where you're coming from, especially given the story you shared. >> Yeah. >> But if you're really connecting with them and you just meant it as a counseling opportunity, why why would you say it like that? Why would you phrase it like that? >> Well, [clears throat] and can you see why that's concerning? Well, I I can, but it's it but it's out of context. The context that I meant that I meant it was I was just trying to open the door for him to tell me, "Okay, um are you are you um feminine? Are you going to be, you know, um a a trans transgender? Or do you want are you thinking you're a female in a male's body? Are you um do you do you know your place as far your place in >> in the in the realm? >> Well, we know that wasn't the path, right? Because in the subject of blue, >> we we we read through the entire message thread, right? We know everything. This isn't us trying to piece things together. We know the whole message. >> We could sit here and read it. >> Yeah, absolutely. If we >> wanted to. Okay. So, and here's the rats. It's not like you have in fact met up with the child. Right. >> Right. >> Right. There's no kid there. You haven't physically touched a child or anything like that. The goal of our investigation was preemptive. We wanted to figure out what was going on before something like that happened, >> right? >> And and there was a victim. And then if you are going through some stuff and need some counseling regarding some concerning urges you may be having >> that's what we need to that's what we need to figure out. I'm absolutely there's no way I would ever do anything with a child. Like so if that's the case, then why why the communication that you sent? >> Well, knowing that that this person was 15 years old. Well, and and at a certain at a certain point I did start feeling like uh I I need to back off of it because this is if if his parents were to find this or whatever. Um it would not look right. And and so I kind of eased back but but then >> So you noticed you you you you knew yourself that it didn't look right. Yeah, I knew that. I knew that it was um on paper it it absolutely did not look right. >> Right. And that's why we're here. >> Yeah. And then and then I got the message saying wanted to meet and I was like uh [snorts] and I was I was getting ready to go to St. to the Paul and I was going to if he if he wanted if he wanted to I was going to invite him to come with me to say visit Depal cuz I'm looking for stuff I'm going to tie later with my family but and that would just give us a chance to walk around and talk and um cuz that's that's the impression that I got was that he just wanted somebody that he could talk to about But he's just figuring it out and and but [sighs] this is this is nuts. So right before we pulled up behind you, you sent the message. Don't you think there's too many people around? >> Believe he was up at the park. >> Right. If your intention was just to talk with him, why would you be concerned about people being around? >> Well, I Well, I wasn't really concerned for for me, but I don't know cuz cuz I cuz I knew also that it it would look strange and And I'm sure that it does actually. >> And just to go back on the on the fact that you you you had just said that uh you know he the person you were communicating with just you know wanted to meet up with you. >> Mhm. >> I'll I'll let you know that you were the one that wanted to meet up with the 15year-old. >> You're the one that that very first said, "Can we meet up? What are you doing right now?" Okay. >> Well, I I think at that point I hadn't quite it hadn't registered that I was talking to a child. >> Okay, I'll give you that. But then you ask how old, right? >> Yeah. >> Clearly he says he's 15. >> Yeah. >> And and then you continue on the conversation. >> Yeah. But I was I wasn't like >> talking about what excites you, those types of things. And then and then things and then and then then you start talking about sexual things in nature. >> Right. >> Yep. >> Right. Well, that's what I explained cuz um he was the impression that I got was that he was looking for an outlet where he could talk. And so I was trying to open that door and I was to talk about things on a on a real level so that he would feel more comfortable and he could talk if he wanted to like >> and then then again Justin too you know we need to get to the bottom of this because I I'm telling you right now this doesn't look good for you know >> secondly you need to be honest with us and yourself. >> Absolutely. Okay, that note you strategically left because you didn't even question some strange phone number texting you. You didn't even question it. >> No, the the reason the reason why was cuz I had gotten a call before, a couple days before that. >> Okay. and somebody said um they found that they got my phone number um at the library and then I I was mortified and I I asked I asked them to throw it away and then [clears throat] so a couple days later and I get this other call and I don't know I just I just >> you know this this doesn't make sense. >> I just I know it doesn't make sense. Like I asked those I I asked those people to throw it away. So, so [cough and clears throat] for and then when when I got the ne when I got the call or the from the boy like it didn't even register that it was that it was the the note that the other person found in the bathroom. >> It didn't >> it didn't [clears throat] register. No. So, >> it says >> I must have missed that in the message. [snorts] >> Good. [clears throat] >> So, so you're sticking with that you left this note on under the windshield of someone's [laughter] >> Yeah. Okay. Who? >> I don't know what their name is. >> Okay. It it was just somebody when I when I went to go um for my for I go walking on the back path. I walk the bridges occasionally and there was somebody um over um at the Kuan Park in the parking lot and and I was talking to him for a minute and then I was too chicken to say something to him. So I hurried up and wrote down a message and put it under the windshield of his car. >> It caught on a spark. >> Yeah. >> Just a little bit ago you told us it was at the library. >> No, I didn't. There I didn't I did not put a note in the bathroom at the library. I would not >> You put it on his windshield at the library. >> No, I didn't say it was at the library. I'm pretty sure that's what you just said. >> No, >> maybe maybe I misunderstood you. >> I think you misunderstood because >> I didn't say anything about Kowan's Park. >> Well, I I didn't say where when I told you about leaving it under on his winch wiper. I didn't say where it was. Okay. >> Well, I mean, this is all being reported, so we can go back and check that. >> Absolutely. So, I guess the the real question, Justin, is at this point is when when the when the [clears throat] text came in, it said when you asked how old you are >> and how tall you are >> and you and he said 5' 9 and 15 years old. Okay. >> Mhm. >> Why did you continue to communicate if you're looking for somebody that's 18 years old? Well, like I like I said when I when I was talking to the kid, it didn't didn't register in my mind that he was calling from a note that he found in a bathroom. >> He said he said he says clearly that he found it at the library. >> Well, I must have missed that in the messages. >> And then you just keep on texting. You don't even question. You don't even question the fact of where did you get my number? Who is this? or anything. You just continue on in about how tall are you and and and what are you doing right now? You want to meet up? >> Yeah. >> I mean, this is your opportunity to to tell me what you're thinking. >> And I know I'm and I'm telling you I'm telling you guys I'm telling you guys the truth. I'm telling you everything as far as I can see it. And >> so you're you're you're saying that note was left at some on somebody's car at Kuanas Park. >> Yeah. >> And then when this 15year-old boy starts texting you and says he found it at found your note at the library and you just continue on with your conversation like nothing ever happened and you didn't you didn't had no clue of of >> You're right. I should have I should have >> you just you just How old are you? How tall are you? what do you look like? And then you just evolve it right into to um other things. >> I understand. >> What do you got to say for yourself? >> I understand what you're saying. Like, >> and why did you not stop the conversation when you said he was 15? >> I absolutely should have. >> Did you think there was going to be something more here? >> No. No. No. No. When I'm looking at it now, I I absolutely should have just told told the kid, it's great that you know it is what it whatever is whatever, but I'm sure you can find somebody that's your age that you can talk to about this. >> But you didn't. You kept talking. You asked about meeting up to go for a walk to talk to him about what excites him, >> right? You're not you're not saying, "Let's go talk about what you're feeling or how you feel like your life's changing." You say, "Let's go walk and talk about what excites you." You're sending stories, explicit stories about experiences you had at his age, sexual nature. During one story, you even specifically talk about how you had to keep it a secret and how it was amazing. >> Yeah. Because because that sto that story was the second time that I was ever with a per with a a man and I was a I was almost 18 but I was 17 years old and and I had so I had to keep it a secret and that made it exciting and exactly it made it exciting. It made it exciting for you. Correct. Right. >> And you are now as an adult male telling this to a juvenile child. >> Right. >> Okay. >> You're absolutely right. I I should not have I should not have told a story like that to a kid. But >> And then shortly after that, it didn't happen. But you agreed to meet up with him the next day when he skipped out on school. >> Yeah. But but that but I didn't and I had other stuff I had other stuff going on and [sighs] this is this isn't guys. [clears throat] >> But I get it. I get it though. Well, like like Detective Bennett said, our primary goal here was to make sure we didn't have somebody that was out there praying upon juveniles, >> right? >> Praying upon kids. That was our main goal, >> right? >> Yeah. >> When we sent the messages, our main goal was, you know, who is this person and what are they do? What are they up to? And then when you're you're straight out of the gate, how tall are you and what's your age? And we say 15 and you don't even bo at it. You just continue communicating. It's like, >> well, maybe we do. Well, it was when when he when he when he told me that he was 15, I was like, "Okay, well, there there's no no harm in having a conversation." But >> it's called it's called communicating with a minor for immoral purposes, >> right? >> Do you think do you think the conversation you had with him is moral? Well, I mean, >> to a 15year-old, do you think that conversation's moral >> to a kid that you don't even know? >> The stories that I talked about, that was inappropriate. I should I should not I should not have said those things. >> But in But in my in my mind, like I wasn't >> I I was just trying to make him feel comfortable so that he could talk openly and And so if you had a 15-year-old um son or a daughter and a child, we'll just say child, and and you had some somebody communicating just like you did with this one, would you be okay with that? >> Oh, I mean, I would be honest with yourself. >> I would I would be probably upset. >> Yeah. >> Yeah. And and I I would hope that my kids could talk to me about you, >> right? >> And not to some stranger, >> right? >> So So it's upsetting. >> It like I I'm not going to lie. I would I would be upset if my kid was having an having a conversation like that with an adult. >> Yeah. >> Without um [sighs] I'm sorry you guys. I just >> Justin, we're just here because we want you to be honest with us. >> Something something else we need to consider. We are going to be seizing your phone because it was used as part of the investigation. If we serve a search warrant on that phone to check the messages on it, we typically do in these types of investigations. >> Are we going to find other communications with anyone else like this [clears throat] >> with specifically >> with minors? Absolutely not. You will absolutely not find anything else with any other minor, not even remotely. I I >> pictures, videos, nothing. >> Nothing. >> Okay. That's honestly our main goal here is we want to make sure we don't have a child predator that was out there trying to lure kids in. >> Yeah, I get it. I I totally get what you guys were saying. Well, we just [clears throat] wanted to get ahead of it because there's there's a difference from somebody who is maybe feeling tempted and stopping it before anything happens. There's a difference between that person and predator that's out there continuously. >> Yeah. Like I I swear to you that like I would never I would never do anything with a kid. I never I would never. And as far as far as my phone goes, go ahead and look. Go ahead and look through. There's all kinds of stuff on there, but nothing with kids. I >> What about What about if the when if if this would have went through and a 15-year-old would have met up and say he wanted something more today? What would have been your Would you have been tempted? >> I wouldn't have I No, I wouldn't have not even let it go there. Okay. [snorts] Uh Justin, so since you I mean you feel pretty confident that there's nothing on your phone, what's the uh if you do decide to move forward with search warrant, uh what's the passcode for your phone? >> 6972. >> 6972. >> That just helps us get it done faster so you can have your phone back is all it does. >> Faster. And then we don't have to have our electronics guy try to crack it. I am going to miss my phone. But yeah, but if if if you guys looking through my phone is going to help help things look better, then absolutely go look through my phone. I don't have anything to hide. >> Well, I mean, you might see some things in there that I'm not proud of, but um Well, we're not we're not here to judge your life criminals. We're just like criminal stuff or >> No. >> Oh, okay. >> Just like I I would be too embarrassed to tell you guys, but you'll see if you look through my phone. >> All right. Well, we we're not here to judge. We don't care about that stuff. We We're here about criminal activity is all. So, that's not not part of our business. >> 6972. >> Okay. I don't think I have >> anything more. I appreciate you talking with us. >> Well, I app I appreciate you guys giving me a chance to explain my my side. >> Okay. So, you're and so just just know that you're you're still going to have to see a judge tomorrow morning. >> Okay. >> Okay. On this um you'll have to go over to the jail and get booked in and see a judge in the morning. >> Okay. >> Okay. And then from there, the judge will either let you out or put you on bail or whatever. That's up to them at that point, not us. >> If that makes sense. >> Okay. >> Okay. >> All right. And then this stuff will be all booked in here at the police department. And you can get everything when you get out of jail except for your phone. and and and if it's tomorrow, just swing right around to the PD and you can pick up all your stuff. >> So, I'm still being arrested. >> Yes. >> Yes. You're >> still being charged with communicating with a minor for immoral purposes and you'll see a judge in the morning. >> Okay. >> Yeah. >> All right. Have any threats or promises been made to you since we've been in here? Okay. You haven't asked for a lawyer or told us to stop talking to you or anything like that? Okay. Everything's been recorded. >> All right. All right. Sounds good. >> I don't have anything to hire. >> All right. Neither do we. So, we just got to do our job and get to the bottom of it and make sure we had didn't have somebody on the loose out there that was targeting young children. So, that was our main goal. Uh, so you are going to have to go back in the custo for a couple more minutes, but we're literally just going to walk you around to the front door of the jail. So they're going to be right next door to us. >> If I get a drink of water really quick, >> we don't have any. Oh, like out here in the fountain. Yeah, he can he can bend over and he can push the button for you and get you a drink. >> Absolutely. >> Keep it keep it loose. If you just want to carry that with you. >> Yeah. >> Put this on your desk to log in. >> Thank you. >> All right. Come over here and get your drink. Heat. Heat. Heat. Heat. Mind if I get in the tr Oh, sure. I don't know how well this one works. Oh, oh, there it goes. I got >> Oh, that's okay. Bennett was at the door with somebody. So here I'm going to do it by