On September 1, 2022, the Washington County Sheriff’s Office conducted a child predator sting where police used a variety of social media platforms to pose as underage boys and girls.
The people contacted the undercover investigators online and offered to meet a person they believed to be a child for sex. When the people arrived to meet the child, they were instead contacted by law enforcement and arrested. During the mission, multiple people immediately ended their conversations once they learned the person they were talking to identified as a minor.
The Sheriff’s Office regularly conducts undercover operations, both full-scale stings and day-to-day chats, targeting child predators. Parents are encouraged to help their children be safe online and to be aware of the websites and mobile applications their kids are using. The Sheriff’s Office provides online safety education for parents and community organizations.
The Washington County Sheriff’s Office would like to thank the Lake Oswego Police Department for assisting with the sting.
The following people were arrested for the felony crimes of luring a minor and online sexual corruption of a child in the first degree:
• Chad Leonard Gruelle, 41, of Washougal
• Nicholas Smith, 25, of Vancouver
• John Bucher, 55, of Hillsboro
• Aubrey Quinn-Ward, 25, of Portland
• Michael David King, 23, of Beaverton
Detectives are concerned there may be more victims of these five individuals and are asking anyone with additional information to call the Sheriff’s Office at 503-846-2700.
