🚨 CAMDEN MAN ARRESTED AFTER K9 ALLEGEDLY LOCATES PHONE USED TO SOLICIT EXPLICIT PHOTOS FROM 7-YEAR-OLD 🚨

📍 CAMDEN COUNTY, NJ — A 36-year-old Camden man has been arrested and charged after authorities say he communicated with a 7-year-old girl through TikTok and text messages and requested sexually explicit photographs from the child.

👮 Elmer Lao, 36, faces charges of second-degree Attempted Manufacturing of Child Sexual Abuse Material and third-degree Endangering the Welfare of a Child.

🔎 According to the Camden County Prosecutor’s Office, the investigation began July 20 after the child disclosed that an adult male had been messaging her.

Authorities allege Lao knew the victim was 7 years old, sent nude videos of himself to her and requested nude photographs in return.

🐕‍🦺 During a search of Lao’s residence on July 22, investigators say K9 Rookie, an electronic-detection dog, located a cellphone inside the defendant’s bedroom. Authorities determined the phone had allegedly been used to communicate with the victim.

⚖️ Lao was taken into custody and remanded to the Camden County Correctional Facility, where he remains pending a detention hearing.

📱 Prosecutor Grace C. MacAulay urged parents to regularly monitor children’s online activity and have ongoing conversations about internet safety and the dangers of communicating with strangers.

📞 Anyone with information is asked to contact Detective Jessica Minniti of the Camden County Prosecutor’s Office Special Victims Unit at 856-225-8537. Anonymous tips can also be submitted through CAMDEN.TIPS.

⚠️ All individuals charged with crimes are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.