Growing concern surrounding online grooming following case in Hamilton County – WRTV

Adam Schumes – I’m the In Your Community reporter for East Side Indy. HAMILTON COUNTY — A Hamilton County case involving a teenager and an adult who police say met through Snapchat is raising concerns about the dangers children face online. WATCH FULL STORY BELOW Growing concern surrounding online grooming following case in Hamilton County Investigators say the case came to light during a runaway investigation, when officers located a 15-year-old girl with 35-year-old Kristopher Novak, the man she allegedly met through the app. According to court documents, the interaction led to a criminal investigation and felony charges. Donna Schrader, a parent, said the situation reflects a challenge many families face. “They’re exposed to so much social media that it’s really hard to be a parent… to tell them to do the right things and stay off social media as much as possible,” Schrader said. Sgt. Angela Ellison of the Fishers Police Department said online relationships can carry serious risks. “People online are not our friends… There are, unfortunately, people out there that want to do ill will toward that vulnerable population,” Ellison said. Advocates say the danger often lies in how quickly contact can escalate. Genevieve Meyer, statewide coalition
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