By Mike Stunson
Merced Sun-Star (Merced, Calif.)
BRANSON, Mo. — The leader of the Predator Poachers, an online vigilante group who try to catch alleged pedophiles in sting operations, was arrested at a Steak ‘n Shake in Missouri, authorities say.
Alex Rosen, who has amassed more than 400,000 followers on X while chronicling his takedowns of accused predators, went to the Branson restaurant on March 26 and asked to speak with a certain employee, according to a probable cause statement.
The employee, according to an interview from Rosen, was previously accused of molesting a 12-year-old, and Rosen said the worker had engaged in similar activity again.
Rosen was asked by the restaurant manager to leave the property and was told multiple times he was trespassing, police said.
One of the employees said she was scared by Rosen’s “aggressive behavior,” according to the probable cause statement.
Rosen, however, denied his actions were aggressive when he spoke to officers about the encounter.
“Alex Rosen was extremely upset initially and said he was trying to bring awareness that one of victim 1’s employees who he had believed engaged in activities he did not agree with,” according to the Branson Police Department.
Police said Rosen “knowingly engaged in an act with the purpose to cause emotional distress.” Some people inside the restaurant told officers they felt Rosen could turn to violence “due to his verbal hostility and aggressive, intimidating approach,” according to police.
Court records show Rosen was charged with trespassing and harassment.
Rosen called his actions a “kamikaze mission,” telling a reporter the accused predator was also taken into custody.
“I flew my plane into the aircraft here and we both exploded,” he said in an interview from jail.
Branson police said in a news release the accused pedophile was arrested after detectives built their criminal case.
“This was a direct result of BPD’s efforts as dedicated professionals who are deeply attuned to the rules of evidence, constitutional rights, and specific procedures that are necessary to build robust, prosecutable cases with the highest probability of success even under appellate scrutiny,” police said.
The department said activity from groups like the Predator Poachers can pose “unnecessary risk” toward victims and increase the possibility people “are harmed through unproven accusations.”
“Such groups that genuinely engaged in these efforts know there are procedures that must be followed for successful outcomes, and that these procedures require proper coordination with law enforcement agencies,” police said.
McClatchy News has reached out to Steak ‘n Shake and is awaiting a response.
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