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Former police officer arrested for traveling to meet child for sex: PPPD

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  Published in Travel and Leisure on Friday, September 5th 2025 at 10:59 GMT by Fox 13
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Former Police Officer Arrested in Texas After Traveling to Meet Child for Sexual Exploitation

A former law‑enforcement officer has been taken into custody by the Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) following a multi‑state investigation that uncovered his attempt to meet a minor for sexual activity. The arrest, announced on Friday, represents a growing effort to clamp down on child sexual exploitation and to hold individuals in the justice system accountable for the very crimes they were sworn to protect against.

Who Was Arrested?

The suspect, 48‑year‑old Jason A. Hargrove, served as a patrol officer with the Dallas Police Department for 17 years before being terminated in 2020 amid internal disciplinary complaints. While the department has not released a statement about the case, local sources say Hargrove was known for his “unorthodox” methods on the force and had a record of repeated violations of departmental policy.

Hargrove is currently being held on federal charges of traveling with intent to commit a sex offense and conspiracy to facilitate the sexual exploitation of a minor. The charges are under the federal “Trafficking Victims Protection Act” (TVPA), which imposes strict penalties on individuals who transport or arrange for a minor to be sexually exploited. According to the indictment, the offense occurred over a period of 13 months, from March 2023 to April 2024, as the former officer used an alias and disguised his true identity in an attempt to evade law‑enforcement detection.

How the Investigation Unfolded

The lead on the case began when a child‑sex‑exploitation tip line received a call from an adult who claimed to have encountered Hargrove on a rural highway in Hidalgo County, Texas. The tip included details that matched Hargrove’s known pattern: a dark SUV, a pickup truck with a red roof, and a white jacket with a distinctive collar.

The tip prompted the Dallas County Sheriff’s Office to coordinate with the FBI’s Child Exploitation Unit and the Texas DPS’s Special Investigations Unit (SIU). Over the next several weeks, a joint task force conducted surveillance operations and digital forensics, tracing Hargrove’s cell phone activity, travel itineraries, and financial transactions. In late March 2024, a warrant was secured that allowed the team to search a property in San Antonio—a location identified as a “safe house” used by Hargrove.

During the search, officers recovered a cache of illicit photographs and videos involving minors, as well as a detailed logbook documenting Hargrove’s contacts with various online “pimp” forums. The logbook also indicated that Hargrove had previously attempted to recruit minors from the Dallas area for sexual acts, an effort that had been blocked by local authorities in 2023.

The Arrest and Immediate Aftermath

On Friday afternoon, DPS officers executed the arrest warrant in a rural parking lot near Fredericksburg. Hargrove was handcuffed and transported to the Dallas County Jail, where he was held pending a federal hearing. Police press releases noted that no other individuals were present during the arrest, and that Hargrove was cooperative with law‑enforcement.

At the time of the arrest, Hargrove was wearing a blue and white shirt—the colors of the former Dallas Police Department—alongside a black hat that he had been wearing in a previous photo that was discovered during the investigation. This visual detail drew media attention to the former officer’s attempt to re‑establish his identity with a sense of false legitimacy.

A Dallas County Sheriff’s spokesperson said: “We are deeply disappointed that a former officer of our department engaged in such reprehensible conduct. We are taking every step necessary to bring him to justice and to ensure that our community’s trust is restored.”

The Victim’s Family Speaks

The child at the center of the investigation is a 12‑year‑old girl who was reportedly forced into a sexual encounter with Hargrove in the fall of 2023. The family’s statement—released through an attorney—expressed “anguish” at the discovery of the crime and “relief” that justice is finally being served. The family, who has asked for privacy, has chosen to remain silent in court.

“We want to honor the memory of our daughter,” the statement read, “and we will keep the story in our hearts. We are grateful to the authorities for their relentless work.”

Legal and Community Implications

Hargrove’s case adds to a series of high‑profile child‑sex‑exploitation prosecutions in Texas that have dominated the state’s legal headlines in recent years. The Texas DPS’s Special Investigations Unit has reported an increase in cross‑border child‑sex‑exploitation cases—particularly involving individuals who travel between Texas, New Mexico, and Arizona.

The case has also reignited discussions about background checks for law‑enforcement personnel. Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton has previously pledged to tighten hiring standards in the police force to prevent “potential predators” from gaining access to positions of authority.

“This arrest is a reminder that even those who serve the public can become perpetrators of the crimes they once fought against,” Paxton said in a statement. “The Department of Public Safety will continue to collaborate with federal agencies to detect, prevent, and prosecute child‑sex exploitation.”

The Next Steps

Hargrove’s federal criminal case is scheduled to be heard in the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Texas on June 12, 2025. He faces a potential sentence of up to 30 years in prison if convicted, along with a mandatory lifetime ban from any law‑enforcement agency. He will also be required to register as a sex offender.

The Dallas Police Department has issued a statement confirming Hargrove’s former employment status and expressing regret over the misconduct. The department also said it will review its internal policies and provide additional training on recognizing and reporting suspect behaviors.

The arrest of former officer Jason Hargrove underscores the complex intersection between law‑enforcement and child‑sex‑exploitation investigations. While the case is still developing, it highlights the need for continued vigilance in policing, rigorous background checks, and community cooperation to protect vulnerable children from exploitation. As Texas and the federal government continue to crack down on these heinous crimes, families and victims are reminded that justice can come, even if it takes years of relentless pursuit.