JSO arrests sex offender hours after ‘vigilante’s’ viral video questioned how agency initially handled him

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – A convicted sex offender seen in a viral video posted by the leader of an online vigilante group that targets alleged sexual predators was arrested Monday, according to the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office. 

Around 9:30 p.m. on Monday, JSO posted to social media saying it had arrested 56-year-old David Binz, the man seen in Alex Rosen’s video, and Binz is facing eight felony charges related to sex offender requirement violations.

The announcement came about twelve hours after Rosen of “Predator Poachers” posted a nearly seven-minute video showing him confronting a Jacksonville man he claims had explicit content, telling him to show it to law enforcement.

In the social media post, JSO addressed Rosen’s video and provided a warning about the role that vigilante investigations can play while the police attempt to do their jobs.

“In this case, a private citizen developed his own inquiry and only contacted law enforcement at the last minute on Sunday. We want to be clear: vigilante investigations are dangerous. They can spread false information, compromise evidence, and put victims or bystanders at greater risk,” police said.

JSO also said that Rosen incorrectly claimed that officers did not seize Binz’s phone during the initial investigation.

“That claim is false. Officers seized the phone and have searched it for potential evidence while working alongside our partners at the State Attorney’s Office,” JSO said.

The interaction following the confrontation between JSO and Rosen sparked plenty of conversation on social media after no immediate arrest was made.

“This is going to be made very famous, I can guarantee it,” Rosen said in the video.

It prompted JSO to issue an official response about their investigative procedures.

“JSO detectives craft their investigations around policies and procedures that are consistent with the law,” the Sheriff’s Office said in a statement. “The device at issue was, in fact, seized by police on Sunday, September 7th. Currently, the Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) Unit is investigating this matter thoroughly, competently, and in compliance with the law.”

News4JAX reviewed the video with Crime and Safety Analyst Tom Hackney. With over 30 years of law enforcement experience, he said the growing trend of civilian-led predator hunting groups presents both opportunities and risks.

“Their intent is right there, I fully get the intent because anyone who does this to kids needs to go to jail, needs to go to prison, needs to have a conviction against them,” said Hackney.

However, Hackney emphasized that proper evidence collection and handling are crucial for successful prosecution.

“It just muddies the water when it comes to the collection of the evidence,” he explained. “These are fine lines and very gray areas that you want to make sure from a prosecution standpoint, from a law enforcement standpoint, that you do everything right because it’s the one little thing that you can lose a case for and have it totally thrown out.”

The video shared online is part of an increasingly popular area of social media. Hackney warned that it presents some safety concerns.

“That’s the kind of person that has nothing to lose,” Hackney said. “You start putting people in a corner, and if you’re not trained to address that, that is just the recipe for disaster.”

People with information on potential crimes against kids can report tips to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children, which dispatches to local law enforcement.

Hackney said now is a good time to remind children about the risks of online communication.

News4JAX has submitted public records requests regarding the incident and reached out to Rosen for comment.

“Protecting children is a top priority. Only trained law enforcement officers should conduct these investigations. Well-meaning citizens may inadvertently jeopardize the ability to successfully arrest and prosecute criminals by conducting vigilante investigations,” the agency said.

The Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office said its specialized Internet Crimes Against Children detectives are continuing their investigation into the matter alongside the State Attorney’s Office and are working to determine if more charges against Binz are warranted.