Also, Peru Schools receive bomb threat
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In November 2025, an investigator with the Howard County Sheriff’s Office and Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force began an investigation after receiving 14 CyberTip Reports from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC) pertaining to Child Sex Abuse Material/Child Exploitation. The CyberTip Reports were generated by Google and included 80+ files depicting child sex abuse material.
Through the investigation, it was determined that 48-year-old Jaime Tirado of Kokomo, Indiana, was the user suspected of uploading the content. On the evening of January 7th, 2026, a search warrant was obtained for the 2200 block of North Locke Street, Kokomo. Investigators with the Howard County Sheriff’s Office were assisted by detectives from the Kokomo Police Department’s Digital Crimes unit with ESD K9 Gelid, and Homeland Security Investigations.
During the search, numerous electronic devices were seized from the residence with at least one device containing media files confirmed to be child sex abuse material. As a result, on January 12, 2026, Jaime Tirado was taken into custody for 10 counts of Possession of Child Sex Abuse Material, Level 5 Felonies.
This investigation was conducted by Investigator Kysha Quirk, an affiliated member of the Indiana Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) Task Force. The Indiana ICAC is a multiagency task force led by the Indiana State Police that investigates and prosecutes persons who use the internet to sexually exploit or entice children. Each year, Indiana ICAC investigators evaluate thousands of tips, investigate hundreds of cases, and rescue dozens of children from ongoing sexual abuse.
The Indiana ICAC Task Force encourages Hoosiers to report online exploitation, solicitation, and enticement-type crimes against children to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC). The NCMEC website can be accessed through the ICAC Task Force website. To report a crime with your child as a victim involving the Internet or other electronic means, please contact your local Indiana law enforcement agency.
To learn more about the efforts of the Indiana ICAC, visit https://internetcrimesagainstkids.com. The Howard County Sheriff’s Office emphasizes that the filing of the information is merely an allegation, and that all persons charged are presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty in court.
Peru Schools receive bomb threat
On Jan. 15, at approximately 9 a.m., the Miami County 911 Dispatch Center received a report of a bomb threat to Peru Jr/Sr High School. Local agencies, including Peru Police, PCS Police, the Miami County Sheriff’s Department, and the Indiana State Police were dispatched.
During this time Peru Community Schools promptly executed its emergency preparedness plan to ensure student and staff safety. All other buildings in the school district were placed on “yellow” lockdown as a precautionary measure.
Within minutes, the above-mentioned law enforcement agencies, along with Bunker Hill Police, Miami County EMA, and the Peru Fire Department arrived on scene. An organized evacuation of the buildings was performed, and a perimeter was established as personnel waited for the arrival of bomb-sniffing canines.
Peru Police and the Indiana State Police began an investigation. Anyone with information should contact Indiana State Police Detective Josh Maller at 765-473-6666.