Dalton police arrest suspect on charges of soliciting minors online

DALTON, Georgia (WDEF) – Dalton police officers arrested a Rossville man on Thursday saying he was trying to meet a pair of 14 year old girls for sex.

It was the end of an online sting by the department.

The department got a tip on Wednesday that 48 year old Derrick Ethan Strong was soliciting underage girls at the Stay Lodge at 1116 Willowdale Road.

Detectives learned he had been staying there for about 8 months.

The tipster said he had vien at least one girl a business card.

Investigators tried to talk to him on Wednesday, but couldn’t find him.

While they were searching for him, they say Strong had made contact with an undercover detective posing as a 14 year old online.

They set up a meeting, with him thinking he was meeting the 14 year old and a friend.

But when he showed up, he only found detectives who placed him under arrest.

Strong faces two counts of attempted child molestation and two counts of soliciting a minor for indecent purposes.