VALDOSTA, Ga. — Law enforcement agencies are warning against citizen-led efforts to catch suspected child predators online, saying such operations can compromise investigations and create legal problems.

The warnings come after a YouTube video circulated Tuesday, Dec. 16 showing a content creator attempting to catch an alleged predator from another county.

|READ MORE: Valdosta PD responds to ‘catch a predator’ YouTube video|

According to the Valdosta Police Department, the creator posed as a 14-year-old child to lure a man to meet them. When the man arrived, police were called but no arrest was made.

The incident sparked social media backlash, with users questioning why the alleged predator was not arrested.

Dougherty County District Attorney Greg Edwards warned that citizen-led stings could create legal defenses for suspects and expose participants to civil liability.

“You have — Number 1, like I said, a complete defense. And number 2 if it is a citizen trying to make their case as a citizen, they may be subject to civil liability. They get sued in their efforts to try to engage in, you know, matters that are generally and exclusive profits of law enforcement,” Edwards said.

Across Georgia, citizens are attempting to catch suspected child predators by posing as minors online, but experts say this approach is problematic without law enforcement involvement.

Valdosta Police Chief Leslie Manahan addressed the incident, explaining the legal requirements for evidence collection in criminal cases.

“As for the evidence in these cases, anytime we collect evidence that we use for an investigation or that is turned over our prosecutors for prosecution, and in the courts we have to ensure that they were obtained in a legal manner as well as they are true to the best of their knowledge that they have not been tampered with altered or in any means been changed and we have to swear under oath that that’s how they were obtained that evidence,” Manahan said. “If not we are not able to use that evidence for any type of investigation or court room activity.”

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