Dartmouth Police Arrest New Bedford Men in Undercover Child Exploitation Sting

DARTMOUTH (WBSM) — Three New Bedford men have been arrested by Dartmouth Police and charged as the result of an undercover child exploitation sting.

On September 25, members of the department’s Investigative Services Division and Community Impact unit, working with the Massachusetts State Police High Risk Victims Unit, “conducted an undercover sting operation to combat the growing threat of commercial sexual exploitation of minors,” Dartmouth Police said in a release.

“Throughout the day and night, detectives working in an undercover capacity arranged to meet with suspects in the area,” police said. “Numerous individuals initiated communications.”

As a result, three New Bedford men – Ernest Santos, 36; Dominic Medeiros, 20; and David Detorres, 50 – were arrested and charged with sexual conduct for a fee with a child under 18, enticement of a child under 16, and attempts to commit a crime.

“The Dartmouth Police Department is constantly committed to making the town a safer place and protecting its most vulnerable members,” Dartmouth Police Chief Brian P. Levesque said.

“Through the efforts of the officers involved, as well as our partnership with the Massachusetts State Police, we were able to prevent the exploitation of minors in our community,” he said.