Google tip led to Las Vegas cop’s arrest on child porn charges

A 12-year Metro officer was arrested Thursday on charges linked to child pornography after a tip from Google led to a three-month investigation, Las Vegas police.

Officer James Henry, 37, faces 10 counts each of possession of child pornography and distribution of child pornography, Metro said.

Google notified the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children that someone had uploaded an image of child pornography in June, according to Henry’s arrest report. That tip was forwarded to Metro on July 22.

Investigators tracked the IP address linked to the image back to Henry’s home, the report said.

A search of Henry’s email account turned up several more depictions of child pornography, police said.

On Oct. 2, Metro detectives interviewed Henry at his substation near the Strip. During the interview, the report said, Henry admitted to uploading the images of boys and girls and called them “captivating and titillating.”

An arrest warrant was issued for Henry on Wednesday, court records show.

He surrendered at the Clark County Detention Center about 7 a.m. Thursday, police said.

Deputy Chief Al Salinas said Thursday during a press conference that this was Henry’s first run-in with internal investigators. An administrative investigation is being conducted simultaenously with the criminal one.

Salinas promised more criminal charges against Henry. He didn’t offer details on how Henry had acquired or distributed the images of minors.

Henry likely came in contact with children on the job, Salinas said when asked about his interaction with the public, but he couldn’t provide specifics.

The officer is being held without bail at the Clark County Detention Center. Salinas said he wasn’t sure when the officer would face a court date.

Henry is assigned to the patrol division in Metro’s Convention Center Area Command, which mostly encompasses the Strip.

He will be placed on unpaid administrative leave pending the outcome of the case.

Contact Colton Lochhead at clochhead@reviewjournal.com or 702-383-4638. Find him on Twitter: @ColtonLochhead. Contact James DeHaven at jdehaven@reviewjournal.com or 702-477-3839. Find him on Twitter: @JamesDeHaven.