Urbana man arrested following child predator sting operation

PAXTON, Ill. (WCIA) — An Urbana man was arrested following the Paxton Police Department's ongoing undercover sting operation targeting child predators.

WCIA's partners with the Ford County Chronicle reported that 34-year-old Kyle Smith was arrested for multiple charges including traveling to meet a minor, solicitation of a child, solicitation to meet a child and criminal damage to state-supported property.

Former Okaw Valley teacher pleads guilty to grooming charges in two counties

Smith was allegedly communicating with an undercover police officer posing as a teenager on Oct. 17. Then on Nov. 2 Smith used a rideshare service to travel to Paxton. He was arrested around 9:45 p.m. in the 800 block of South High Street following the Paxton PD's sting operation.

After Smith was arrested, Paxton Police told WCIA he began to resist by throwing his body onto the squad car, which dented the car's quarter-panel.

According to court documents, Smith is set to appear in court on Dec. 17 a 2 p.m.