Docs: Blackford County man arrested after meeting decoy he believed was a 13-year-old

BLACKFORD COUNTY, Ind. — Police arrested a Blackford County man accused of planning to meet a juvenile for a sexual encounter after a member of an online predator catchers group alerted law enforcement.

The investigation began on July 20 when officers with the Hartford City Police Department received a call from a self-proclaimed member of the Predator Catchers Incorporated who advised that he was with a man he identified as 43-year-old Shawn Dragoo at a CVS.

The caller said Dragoo allegedly arrived there to meet with a decoy he believed to be a 13-year-old after the two had been chatting on Grindr for several weeks earlier. When Dragoo was asked why he was there, court documents show that he admitted he was there to meet a 13-year-old while stating that he was “stupid in the head.”

When he was questioned about what he planned to do with the juvenile, Dragoo reportedly said, “They got evidence, I know.”

“I talked sexual to her”: Dragoo’s account

Dragoo was then transported to the local police station for a formal interview as police worked to learn more about the arranged meet-up. After establishing contact with a profile on Grindr, court documents said that Dragoo admitted to chatting with a juvenile he believed to be a 13-year-old, saying he “talked sexual to her.”

Dragoo said he then arranged a plan to meet the juvenile at a CVS in Hartford City, but said he later regretted agreeing to it.

When he was questioned about what he planned to do with the juvenile, Dragoo said they were just going to “hang out” and maybe play some video games. During the interview, Dragoo allegedly admitted that he had sent a photo of his genitalia to the juvenile and confirmed that he understood the child was 13 years of age, court documents said.

During the interview, court documents show that Dragoo attempted to blame his decisions on a brain tumor he claimed he was born with. He also said that he had planned for the meeting to end with “sexual activity.”

As part of their investigation, detectives met and spoke with a member of the Predator Catchers group who provided the evidence and tip to police. They informed police that contact between the decoy and the Dragoo was initiated on July 5, before they exchanged cell phone numbers and continued their conversations.

When police executed a search warrant on Dragoo’s phone, court documents reveal they found numerous messages where Dragoo discussed performing sexual acts with the child and the photo depicting his genitalia.

More context

The development comes at a time when some have expressed concerns about citizen-led groups and their potential interference with law enforcement investigations into alleged child sex crimes.

A recent video posted by livestreamer JiDion, who describes himself as a “pedophile hunter,” recently went viral, with IMPD and the Marion County Prosecutor’s Office weighing in on the legality of these groups.

Next steps

Online court records indicate Dragoo has been preliminarily charged with Child Solicitation (Level 4 Felony) and Dissemination of Matter Harmful to Minors (Level 6 Felony).

As of this article’s publication, records have not been updated to reflect when Dragoo is set to appear in Blackford Circuit Court for an initial hearing.