Gadsden police catch alleged internet predator

Gadsden police say they've put a suspected internet predator behind bars.

The investigation began in May 2012 when an officer with the Special Projects Team created an ad on craigslist posing as a 15-year-old female. The ad was placed in the Woman for Male section and police say a 21-year-old man from Weaver named Daren James Allison responded.

Police say Allison sent messages asking the "girl" to send him photos. He also sent her text messages from a cell phone.

Those messages because "more numerous and sexually graphic" as the months-long investigation continued, Captain Regina May said.

"In one message, the two discuss her age in relation to having sex with Allison and how it was illegal," May added.

Allison allegedly sent a message to the girl on Thursday, Aug. 2 telling her that he was coming to pick her up in Gadsden and spend the night with her, Captain May said.

The officer who was posing as the 15-year-old arranged a meeting location with Allison. When Allison arrived, he was taken into custody.

Police have charged Allison with traveling to meet a child for an unlawful sex act, which is a class A felony. He is being held on a $100,000 bond.

"The Gadsden Police Department's Special Projects Team is sending a message to child predators not to prey on our children and if you try, you are taking a $100,000-plus chance," May said in a release.

The police department's Special Projects Team has used undercover profiles to catch at least two other suspects charged with traveling to meet a child for sex.

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