Lawrence County, Tennessee, police officers pose as teenagers to arrest man wanted for child sex crimes

(Source: Lawrence County Sheriff's Department)

LAWRENCE COUNTY, Tenn. (WKRN) – Lawrence County officers posing as a minor during an undercover operation arrested a man wanted for child sex offenses.

Investigators said the suspect, Levi D. Freeman, 45, was recently indicted by a Lawrence County grand jury on several felony charges, including solicitation of a minor and attempted aggravated statutory rape.

“This man thought he was meeting a 17-year-old boy to commit a sexual act. He went to the meeting and met two of my deputies,” Lawrence County Sheriff John Myers said.

News 2 obtained body camera footage of the encounter.

Video shows deputies pulling up behind Freeman who was parked at a convenience store.

After being informed of his rights, Freeman declined to discuss the sexual allegations. The sheriff said the allegations began on Facebook and then escalated, with graphic photos allegedly being sent to the teen on Snapchat.

Myers said the 17-year-old called the sheriff's department to complain about the activity and the sheriff's department went to the teen's home, checked his social media account and then continued to talk to Freeman as if investigators were the 17-year-old.

Freeman also failed a field sobriety test that night and will be charged with driving while intoxicated, authorities said.

His case will also be presented to the Grand Jury.

“He decides it's in his best interest not to talk about the text messages,” Myers said.

On the morning of Tuesday, July 2, officers with arrest warrants went to pick up the alleged sex offender.

Deputies went to Freeman's home, which investigators believe was a room he rented in the basement of another home.

After a brief search of the home, Freeman was taken into custody without incident.

“There are predators like that everywhere. This guy made a mistake, and it’s a good thing because, like I said, he thought he was meeting a 17-year-old boy and he actually met two of my sheriff’s deputies. I couldn’t be more proud of my deputies; they did a great job. I can’t say enough good things, so hats off to my guys and gals,” Myers said.

Myers told News 2 that Freeman, a Florida native, had no comment following his arrest and is currently in jail on $25,000 bail.