Hamilton County Sheriff’s Office Arrests Dewayne Douglas Price for Sexual Exploitation of a Minor

Hamilton County, TN - On December 9, 2022, Hamilton County Sheriff’s Office Criminal Investigative Services personnel concluded an investigation involving the sexual exploitation of a minor. The investigation culminated in the arrest of Dewayne Douglas Price, Jr. (age 40) of Ooltewah. This investigation stems from a cyber tip submitted through the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC).

In addition to Mr. Price, (6) adults across the United States have been identified engaged in production of Child Sexual Abuse Material (CSAM) with children. Local and Federal jurisdictions were sent to make contact with these identified offenders and the child victims with charges pending.

The Hamilton County Sheriff’s Office is an affiliate of Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) Task force and receives these cyber tips regularly to investigate. Several cyber tips were received regarding Mr. Price and his case was selected to be part of Operation Dark Shadows.

Operation Dark Shadows consisted of the Hamilton County Sheriff’s Office, Federal Bureau of Investigations, Homeland Security Investigations, Tennessee Bureau of Investigations, US Marshalls Service, and the Chattanooga Police Department. The Hamilton County Sheriff’s Office is thankful for the assistance of these local and federal partners.

Mr. Price was found to be soliciting, possessing, distributing and producing Child Sexual Abuse Material (CSAM) while using the internet and is charged with numerous counts of the following:

- Sexual Exploitation of a Minor

- Aggravated Sexual Exploitation of a Minor

- Especially Aggravated Sexual Exploitation of a Minor

- Solicitation of a Person Under 18 Years of Age

Mr. Price is currently being held in the Hamilton County Jail on a bond of $5,000,000.

No further information or details regarding this incident are available as parts of this investigation remain on-going.