An arrest was made of a 47-year-old Tennessee police officer this week following the discovery of his alleged involvement in requesting and receiving child sexual abuse material (CSAM) from a Virginia mother.
Dan Roark, who had been serving as an officer with the Knoxville Police Department since 2007, faces charges of producing child pornography, as disclosed by authorities.
The case unfolded when an anonymous tip led the Scott County, Virginia, sheriff's department to investigate a child involved in sending CSAM to an unidentified individual.
Further scrutiny revealed a series of incriminating text messages exchanged between the child's phone and a Tennessee-based number, eventually traced back to Roark through a search warrant.
Collaboration between the Scott County Sheriff's Office, the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation, and the U.S. Homeland Security Investigations ensued as the investigation expanded.
Subsequent findings unveiled Roark's communication with the victim's mother, wherein he allegedly coerced her into producing illicit images and videos of her juvenile daughter, with evidence indicating the engagement dated back to at least July 2023.
The victim's mother was also apprehended on charges of producing child pornography and other crimes against children. During her interview with the authorities, she revealed details about her relationship with Roark, citing instances of monetary exchange for the illicit content.
In response to the allegations, the Knoxville Chief of Police, Paul Noel, expressed deep concern and a commitment to full cooperation with federal investigators to address the matter and restore public trust.
Roark's upcoming court proceedings include a detention hearing on November 9 and a preliminary hearing scheduled for November 16, according to court records.
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