Manassas police report second arrest in “Operation Broken Heart”

Manassas City Police Department
Crime Report
May 22, 2015

At approximately 5:30AM on May 14, 2015, Manassas City Police Investigators, in conjunction with the Northern Virginia-District of Columbia Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) Task Force and U.S. Department of Homeland Security Investigations, arrested a man who responded to an undercover advertisement looking for persons willing to travel to Manassas to have sexual contact with juveniles.

Investigators identified Walter SARGENT, 48, of 1401 N Rhodes St #304, Arlington, VA 22209 as a suspect after he responded to an undercover Investigator on Craigslist on April 29th about having sexual relations with a fictitious 12-year-old male. 

A search warrant was conducted at the suspect’s residence on May 14, 2015 and SARGENT was taken into custody without incident. 

SARGENT was charged with use of a communications device to facilitate certain offenses involving children and attempted forcible sodomy.  He was held without bond and has a pending court date of June 11, 2015 in General District Court.

SARGENT’s apprehension was the second such arrest made by Manassas City Police as part of “Operation Broken Heart”, a collaborative effort that involves local, state, and federal authorities targeting sexual predators and traffickers during April and May of 2015.

Anyone with information about these events is encouraged to call the Manassas City Police Department Investigative Services Division at (703) 257-8092 or Crime Solvers.  The Manassas City Crime Solvers will pay a cash reward up to $1000 for information that leads to an arrest in these cases.  The confidential 24-hour tip line is (703) 330-0330.