BREAKING: DAVE ZORN OF KAFF NEWS ARRESTED AS A RESULT OF NORTHERN ARIZONA TASK FORCE STING OPERATION. over the course of six months, the north star task force led a series of multiagency operations targeting child sex trafficking and exploitation has resulted in 28 arrests, including 9 felony arrests tied to serious crimes such as luring of a minor, aggravated luring of a minor, sexual exploitation of a minor, pandering, and child sex trafficking. the other 19 arrests were misdemeanor prostitution charges. the north star task force is an extensive enforcement effort which brings together local, county, state, and federal agencies including coconino county sheriff office, mohave county sheriffs office, yavapai county sheriffs office, lake havasu city police department, scottsdale police department, chandler police department, mesa police department, surprise police department, arizona department of public safety, coconino county attorney office, homeland security investigations (hsi), u.s. marshals service. nonprofit partners also played a vital role, including fiat, e3 ranch foundation, darkhorse benefits, and aatn (anti-trafficking network), offering essential support throughout the operations. of those arrested, nearly all were local members of our own communities living and working among us. their arrests underscore the deeply concerning reality that child exploitation is not a distant or rare occurrence; it is a prevalent and ongoing issue hiding in plain sight. amongst those arrested for felony charges were:. name charges. thomas jay smith child sex trafficking. brent william smith child sex trafficking. michael e. flores luring a minor for sexual exploitation. marcus wimberley child sex trafficking. david zorn luring a minor for sexual exploitation. rakesh dullbson luring a minor for sexual exploitation. max berkman child sex trafficking. christopher hoffman child sex trafficking. abel ramoschild sex trafficking. these individuals believed they could operate unnoticed, but our message is clear: if you exploit children, we will find you. while the arrest of these 28 suspects marks a significant victory, the flagstaff police department emphasizes that this operation also exposed wider patterns of exploitation that will continue to be addressed with urgency and resolve. “we will remain relentless in our pursuit of justice and protection for the vulnerable. these crimes will not be tolerated in our neighborhoodsâ€, north star task force lead detective, bethany hyde. this multiagency operation highlights the strength of collaboration between law enforcement and community partners in confronting one of the most serious threats to public safety and human dignity. the public is urged to report any suspected trafficking or exploitation to the flagstaff police department at 928-774-1414 or to the national human trafficking hotline at 1-888-373-7888. longtime flagstaff radio broadcaster and news director at kaff, dave zorn was arrested on thursday, march 27, and booked into the coconino county detention facility on a charge of luring a minor for sexual exploitation. according to court records, his bond was set at $100,000. zorn, 52, served as news director for great circle media/kaff news radio since 2014. well known for broadcasting northern arizona university (nau) and local high school sports, he also moderated election forums for flagstaff’s mayor and city council. under arizona law, luring a minor for sexual exploitation is a class 3 felony, punishable by 5 to 15 years in prison. if the minor is under 15, it becomes a class 2 felony with a 10- to 14-year sentence. the law also allows law enforcement to conduct sting operations where officers pose as minors. flagstaff police declined to provide further details, citing an ongoing investigation with the department of public safety. in the wake of the arrest, kaff sports announced that a scheduled high school baseball game broadcast would be canceled due to “unforeseen circumstances.” additionally, zorn, who had been a part-time instructor at nau, was removed from the faculty directory, and his spring 2025 course was reassigned. an email to students confirmed that he would no longer be teaching for the remainder of the semester.
Over the course of six months, the North Star Task Force led a series of multiagency operations targeting child sex trafficking and exploitation has resulted in 28 arrests, including 9 felony arrests tied to serious crimes such as luring of a minor, aggravated luring of a minor, sexual exploitation of a minor, pandering, and child sex trafficking. The other 19 arrests were misdemeanor prostitution charges.
The North Star Task Force is an extensive enforcement effort which brings together local, county, state, and federal agencies including Coconino County Sheriff Office, Mohave County Sheriffs Office, Yavapai County Sheriffs Office, Lake Havasu City Police Department, Scottsdale Police Department, Chandler Police Department, Mesa Police Department, Surprise Police Department, Arizona Department of Public Safety, Coconino County Attorney Office, Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), U.S. Marshals Service.
Nonprofit partners also played a vital role, including FIAT, E3 Ranch Foundation, Darkhorse Benefits, and AATN (Anti-Trafficking Network), offering essential support throughout the operations.
Of those arrested, nearly all were local members of our own communities living and working among us. Their arrests underscore the deeply concerning reality that child exploitation is not a distant or rare occurrence; it is a prevalent and ongoing issue hiding in plain sight. Amongst those arrested for felony charges were:
Name Charges
Thomas Jay Smith Child Sex Trafficking
Brent William Smith Child Sex Trafficking
Michael E. Flores Luring a Minor for Sexual Exploitation
Marcus Wimberley Child Sex Trafficking
David Zorn Luring a Minor for Sexual Exploitation
Rakesh Dullbson Luring a Minor for Sexual Exploitation
Max Berkman Child Sex Trafficking
Christopher Hoffman Child Sex Trafficking
Abel RamosChild Sex Trafficking
These individuals believed they could operate unnoticed, but our message is clear: if you exploit children, we will find you.
While the arrest of these 28 suspects marks a significant victory, the Flagstaff Police Department emphasizes that this operation also exposed wider patterns of exploitation that will continue to be addressed with urgency and resolve.
“We will remain relentless in our pursuit of justice and protection for the vulnerable. These crimes will not be tolerated in our neighborhoodsâ€, North Star Task Force Lead Detective, Bethany Hyde.
This multiagency operation highlights the strength of collaboration between law enforcement and community partners in confronting one of the most serious threats to public safety and human dignity.
The public is urged to report any suspected trafficking or exploitation to the Flagstaff Police Department at 928-774-1414 or to the National Human Trafficking Hotline at 1-888-373-7888.
Longtime Flagstaff radio broadcaster and news director at KAFF, Dave Zorn was arrested on Thursday, March 27, and booked into the Coconino County Detention Facility on a charge of luring a minor for sexual exploitation. According to court records, his bond was set at $100,000.
Zorn, 52, served as news director for Great Circle Media/KAFF News Radio since 2014. Well known for broadcasting Northern Arizona University (NAU) and local high school sports, he also moderated election forums for Flagstaff’s mayor and city council.
Under Arizona law, luring a minor for sexual exploitation is a Class 3 felony, punishable by 5 to 15 years in prison. If the minor is under 15, it becomes a Class 2 felony with a 10- to 14-year sentence. The law also allows law enforcement to conduct sting operations where officers pose as minors.
Flagstaff Police declined to provide further details, citing an ongoing investigation with the Department of Public Safety.
In the wake of the arrest, KAFF Sports announced that a scheduled high school baseball game broadcast would be canceled due to “unforeseen circumstances.” Additionally, Zorn, who had been a part-time instructor at NAU, was removed from the faculty directory, and his spring 2025 course was reassigned.
An email to students confirmed that he would no longer be teaching for the remainder of the semester.
BREAKING: DAVE ZORN OF KAFF NEWS ARRESTED AS A RESULT OF NORTHERN ARIZONA TASK FORCE STING OPERATION. over the course of six months, the north star task force led a series of multiagency operations targeting child sex trafficking and exploitation has resulted in 28 arrests, including 9 felony arrests tied to serious crimes such as luring of a minor, aggravated luring of a minor, sexual exploitation of a minor, pandering, and child sex trafficking. the other 19 arrests were misdemeanor prostitution charges. the north star task force is an extensive enforcement effort which brings together local, county, state, and federal agencies including coconino county sheriff office, mohave county sheriffs office, yavapai county sheriffs office, lake havasu city police department, scottsdale police department, chandler police department, mesa police department, surprise police department, arizona department of public safety, coconino county attorney office, homeland security investigations (hsi), u.s. marshals service. nonprofit partners also played a vital role, including fiat, e3 ranch foundation, darkhorse benefits, and aatn (anti-trafficking network), offering essential support throughout the operations. of those arrested, nearly all were local members of our own communities living and working among us. their arrests underscore the deeply concerning reality that child exploitation is not a distant or rare occurrence; it is a prevalent and ongoing issue hiding in plain sight. amongst those arrested for felony charges were:. name charges. thomas jay smith child sex trafficking. brent william smith child sex trafficking. michael e. flores luring a minor for sexual exploitation. marcus wimberley child sex trafficking. david zorn luring a minor for sexual exploitation. rakesh dullbson luring a minor for sexual exploitation. max berkman child sex trafficking. christopher hoffman child sex trafficking. abel ramoschild sex trafficking. these individuals believed they could operate unnoticed, but our message is clear: if you exploit children, we will find you. while the arrest of these 28 suspects marks a significant victory, the flagstaff police department emphasizes that this operation also exposed wider patterns of exploitation that will continue to be addressed with urgency and resolve. “we will remain relentless in our pursuit of justice and protection for the vulnerable. these crimes will not be tolerated in our neighborhoodsâ€, north star task force lead detective, bethany hyde. this multiagency operation highlights the strength of collaboration between law enforcement and community partners in confronting one of the most serious threats to public safety and human dignity. the public is urged to report any suspected trafficking or exploitation to the flagstaff police department at 928-774-1414 or to the national human trafficking hotline at 1-888-373-7888. longtime flagstaff radio broadcaster and news director at kaff, dave zorn was arrested on thursday, march 27, and booked into the coconino county detention facility on a charge of luring a minor for sexual exploitation. according to court records, his bond was set at $100,000. zorn, 52, served as news director for great circle media/kaff news radio since 2014. well known for broadcasting northern arizona university (nau) and local high school sports, he also moderated election forums for flagstaff’s mayor and city council. under arizona law, luring a minor for sexual exploitation is a class 3 felony, punishable by 5 to 15 years in prison. if the minor is under 15, it becomes a class 2 felony with a 10- to 14-year sentence. the law also allows law enforcement to conduct sting operations where officers pose as minors. flagstaff police declined to provide further details, citing an ongoing investigation with the department of public safety. in the wake of the arrest, kaff sports announced that a scheduled high school baseball game broadcast would be canceled due to “unforeseen circumstances.” additionally, zorn, who had been a part-time instructor at nau, was removed from the faculty directory, and his spring 2025 course was reassigned. an email to students confirmed that he would no longer be teaching for the remainder of the semester.
