On Nov. 15, a Limestone County child began to receive text messages from an unknown number, according to the Limestone County Sheriffs Office. The person explained that they had a crush on the child. The child told the unknown party they had the wrong number and stopped communication. The offender continued to message the child using different numbers. During the weekend of Dec. 1-4, the messages became so graphic and disturbing the child went to a school counselor for help, the LCSO said.

The sheriff’s office was notified, and Limestone County Investigator Jesse Gibson and Captain Caleb Durden responded to begin the investigation. The offender continued to solicit, coerce and lure the child sexually.

The Criminal Investigations Division worked to identify this offender. Their efforts uncovered the offender’s identity as 40-year-old Daniel Lee Hargrove. Hargrove was previously a Limestone County resident before moving to Georgetown, Tenn.

A warrant was obtained for the arrest of Hargrove for electronic solicitation of a child. On Friday, Dec. 8, Durden requested the assistance of the Bradley County Sheriff’s Office in Tennessee to locate and arrest Hargrove. Hargrove was arrested in Tennessee on Friday and extradited to Limestone County on Dec. 13.

During an interview with Gibson and Durden, Hargrove confessed to the electronic solicitation of a child.

Hargrove is being held in the Limestone County Jail. No bond is set at this time.

“I’m proud of the work our investigators put into protecting this child in our community, and I’m so proud of this child for bringing this case to the attention of a trusted adult,” Sheriff Joshua McLaughlin said. “I also want to thank the Bradley County Sheriff’s Office and Cleveland Police Department for their assistance in this case.

“I want to remind each parent to actively monitor the content of their children’s devices to ensure a predator isn’t contacting or grooming them. Please remember, if you see something, say something.”