In an initiative beginning in May 2021 to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse, Redmond Detectives conducted several online investigations resulting in the arrest of three adult males for Communicating with a Minor for Immoral Purposes. The detectives used decoy profiles on location-based social networking/dating apps to meet the suspects.

Each suspect was told several times throughout the investigations they were communicating with 14 or 15-year-old females. All suspects continued to engage in sexually motivated conversations with the investigators believing they were minors.

On Friday, October 8, Redmond Police Detectives arrested 49-year-old Lance Ray Egli, who works as a Psychologist in a high school located in Snohomish County, on four counts of Communicating with a Minor for Immoral Purposes. He is currently in custody at the King County Correctional Facility in Seattle.

In May, 57-year-old Jeffrey Ralph Brown of Yakima began communicating with detectives. Brown informed them he was in the area working on a road construction project. After weeks of sexually motivated communications, Brown proposed a meeting and was arrested on May 19 near Downtown Park in Redmond.

Detectives also flushed out 46-year-old Garrett M. Swanzy of Tacoma during chats with what he thought was a 14-year-old. Through meticulous investigations utilizing photographic evidence provided by Swanzy, detectives learned that he worked as support staff for a King County hospital. He was taken into custody on September 3.

“Children are at risk of being the victim of online child predators anytime they use social networking apps,” Police Chief Darrell Lowe said. “I’m proud of our officers and detectives for their dedication to keeping our children safe. With the increasing number of social networking apps, it is more important than ever for parents of teens to be vigilant about their child’s online activity and to have open conversations about appropriate behaviors.”