On Monday, Maui police reported that six men ranging in age from 36 to 86 years old were arrested during a sweep targeting child sexual predators over the weekend.

The arrests on Maui came as a result of Operation Keiki Shield, an ongoing effort to prosecute people who commit internet-facilitated sexual crimes against children and to rescue the victims of abuse.

According to the police department, all six of the men were caught soliciting what they believed to be children for criminal sexual acts online and took “substantial steps” to meet up with the law enforcement officers posing as minors.

On Tuesday, police reported that another man who worked as a probationary employee for the department had been arrested on allegations of sexual assault in the first degree and electronic enticement of a child in the first degree.

“In light of our department’s continued involvement in Operation Keiki Shield and our ongoing efforts to protect the most vulnerable members of our community, these allegations are not taken lightly,” Police Chief John Pelletier said in a statement. “This type of conduct is not reflective of the values of the Maui Police Department. We are committed to ensuring a thorough and impartial investigation and to upholding the highest standards of integrity and accountability.”

Pelletier added that the department is “taking deliberate steps to reinforce our commitment to fair and equitable law enforcement practices, ensuring that the rights of every individual are upheld.”

Per police department policy following a court ruling, MPD did not identify any of the seven men arrested. However, a department spokesperson confirmed that Wayne Velasquez, 44, of Kihei was taken into police custody and has been placed on administrative leave as a result of the allegations.

According to the department, Velasquez had been employed for only 27 days as an early hire, he performed no law enforcement duties and he had no interaction with the public.

The six men arrested during Operation Keiki Shield include:

• Gavin Sarme, 38, of Kihei on a charge of commercial sexual exploitation of a minor

• Johnny Prones, 37, of Kihei on a charge of electronic enticement of a child in the first degree

• Kaimi Pupuhi, 46, of Kihei on a charge of electronic enticement of a child in the first degree

• Kar Arcano, 36, of Kahului on a charge of commercial sexual exploitation of a minor

• Christopher Glavor, 38, of Kihei on a charge of electronic enticement of a child in the first degree

• Michael Dela Cruz, 86, of Kihei on a charge of electronic enticement of a child in the first degree

All six were held on $100,000 bail.

Police said the cases are being referred to the Maui County prosecuting attorney for review with some additional cases being referred to federal law enforcement agencies for potential violations of federal law.

Additional violations of Hawaii statutes by other suspects identified during this operation remain under investigation.

Operation Keiki Shield included investigators and agents from the Maui Police Department, the attorney general’s office, the ICAC taskforce, the Honolulu Police Department, the Kauai Police Department, the Hawaii County Police Department, Hawaii County Prosecutor’s Office, FBI and U.S. Secret Service.