Ex-HPD sergeant, deputy among 60 arrested during Operation Broken Heart
Mugshots of some of those arrested as part of "Operation Broken Heart" are displayed at a news conference in Houston on June 19, 2018. (KPRC)
HOUSTON – Sixty people were arrested during a three-month operation aimed at stopping the online sexual exploitation of children in the Houston region, police said.
Operation Broken Heart involved several law enforcement agencies and resulted in the identification of 19 children who are victims of sexual exploitation, police said.
Houston police Chief Art Acevedo said among those arrested were a former Houston police sergeant, a Dayton Independent School District teacher and a former Harris County sheriff’s deputy. He said the deputy admitted during an interview with detectives that he also planned to rob the victim who had arranged to meet.
Authorities said that they will not disclose the investigative techniques used as part of the investigation, but most employed an undercover element.
The identities and mugshots of those who were arrested will be added to this story when they are released.
VIDEO: Police discuss Operation Broken Heart
Copyright 2018 by KPRC Click2Houston - All rights reserved.
Top stories in the Houston area today ▶ 1:32
Top stories in the Houston area today
Man Found Shot to Death Inside Taco Truck in North Houston | Police Search for 2 Masked Suspects ▶ 0:39
Man Found Shot to Death Inside Taco Truck in North Houston | Police Search for 2 Masked Suspects
Drivers brace for months-long I-10 lane closures near downtown Houston ▶ 0:39
Drivers brace for months-long I-10 lane closures near downtown Houston
Inside the hours before a Texas A&M student’s fatal fall from an Austin high-rise apartment ▶ 1:14
Inside the hours before a Texas A&M student’s fatal fall from an Austin high-rise apartment
Inside the hours before a Texas A&M student’s fatal fall from an Austin high-rise apartment ▶ 1:08
Inside the hours before a Texas A&M student’s fatal fall from an Austin high-rise apartment
Ex-NASCAR driver revs up neurodivergent driving training in Houston ▶ 1:31
Ex-NASCAR driver revs up neurodivergent driving training in Houston
Misty, dreary and totally tiny totals today ▶ 1:03
Misty, dreary and totally tiny totals today
'I hear BOOM!': Witness recounts police chase that ends in crash, shooting in Houston ▶ 0:31
'I hear BOOM!': Witness recounts police chase that ends in crash, shooting in Houston
Suspect exchanges gunfire with Houston police during traffic stop ▶ 0:30
Suspect exchanges gunfire with Houston police during traffic stop
December 4th's Super 'Cold' Moon ▶ 1:11
December 4th's Super 'Cold' Moon
Fire rips through Meyerland apartment complex, displacing about 50 residents ▶ 1:13
Fire rips through Meyerland apartment complex, displacing about 50 residents
Houston Headlines: Houston attorney representing parents of A&M student ▶ 1:44
Houston Headlines: Houston attorney representing parents of A&M student
The science behind hail ▶ 0:42
The science behind hail
Recent water bill spikes leave Houston area residents frustrated, confused ▶ 0:57
Recent water bill spikes leave Houston area residents frustrated, confused
Wanted teacher at Aldine ISD taught for 2 years before arrest on child sex assault charges ▶ 1:08
Wanted teacher at Aldine ISD taught for 2 years before arrest on child sex assault charges
Rats run Houston City Hall... at night. Dozens of rodents seen running around after sunset ▶ 1:00
Rats run Houston City Hall... at night. Dozens of rodents seen running around after sunset
Texas A&M student’s death leaves mother seeking answers ▶ 1:45
Texas A&M student’s death leaves mother seeking answers
Mayor Whitmire’s contracted crews start heavy trash clean up in Houston neighborhood ▶ 0:41
Mayor Whitmire’s contracted crews start heavy trash clean up in Houston neighborhood
Rising energy costs hit Houston’s older neighborhoods the hardest ▶ 0:43
Rising energy costs hit Houston’s older neighborhoods the hardest
Wet Weather Tonight Through Friday | Sunny, Gorgeous Weekend Still Ahead for Houston ▶ 1:06
Wet Weather Tonight Through Friday | Sunny, Gorgeous Weekend Still Ahead for Houston
Child mauled after neighbor’s dog barges through front door in northeast Harris County ▶ 1:27
Child mauled after neighbor’s dog barges through front door in northeast Harris County
Top headlines for Wednesday, Dec. 3 ▶ 1:38
Top headlines for Wednesday, Dec. 3
City leaders report rise in accidental child gun deaths ▶ 1:26
City leaders report rise in accidental child gun deaths
Mother of Texas A&M student found dead in Austin questions police account ▶ 0:44
Mother of Texas A&M student found dead in Austin questions police account
Gas prices plunging just like the temperature ▶ 2:01
Gas prices plunging just like the temperature
Previous photo Next photo