Tiffin man arrested after vigilante sex sting

TIFFIN — A confrontation captured on video at a Fremont restaurant and circulating rapidly on social media has prompted an ongoing investigation into the Tiffin man who was the subject of the video. The video, posted online by area vigilante group Dads Against Predators (D.A.P), shows several people confronting 68-year-old Ronald E. Callahan inside of a Denny's restaurant after the group said he had been communicating with a decoy posing as a 14-year-old boy online. Per social media posts made by D.A.P, the conversation involved plans to meet in person at the restaurant. Videos shared show multiple people confronting the man inside the restaurant and even surrounding the building outside before Fremont police escorted Callahan out of the building. Callahan was arrested Thursday on a charge of attempted importuning, in violation of Ohio Revised Code 2923.02 and 2907.07(D)(2). Police said Callahan was taken into custody in Tiffin and transported to the Sandusky County Jail. Callahan is the owner of Ron's Photography, a photography business and studio located in Tiffin. In a statement released Thursday, Fremont Police Chief Derek Wensinger said the arrest followed an investigation conducted by officers and detectives after a disturbance Wednesday evening at the restaurant, at 1750 Cedar St., Fremont. Wensinger said a second disturbance occurred at Sheetz, 3400 Ohio 53, outside the Fremont city limits but conducted by the same group, where members of D.A.P confronted another individual regarding alleged online misconduct. Police said D.A.P conducts online sting operations outside the parameters of formal law enforcement investigations, but has agreed to provide videos and chat records to assist police. Fremont Mayor Danny Sanchez released a statement Thursday saying the matter was under investigation. "I am fully aware of the events that have taken place in our community over the past 24 to 48 hours involving Dads Against Predators exposing individuals who allegedly intended to engage in sexual relationships with minors or seek nudity material involving minors," Sanchez said. Sanchez said he had been working with the Fremont Police Department, Sandusky County Sheriff's Office, Fremont city prosecutor's office and the Sandusky County prosecutor's office to determine possible charges Thursday. "I believe that there are several potential applicable charges and have shared that with prosecutors," Sanchez said. "The videos circulating are extremely disturbing," he said. "As someone who also has grandchildren living in this community, I take these matters very seriously." Both incidents remain under investigation by the Fremont Police Department and the Sandusky County Sheriff's Office.