A Covington man has been arrested on a charge related to the use of electronic communications in an offense involving a minor, according to the Alleghany County Sheriff’s Office and Regional Jail.

Roanoke families are being urged to stay alert as police and city schools warn of an alarming rise in online predators targeting children through popular gaming platforms like Roblox and chat apps such as Discord.

A man was arrested in a child exploitation investigation on Aug. 1, Lynchburg Police confirmed. The man was identified as 29-year-old Andrew Joseph O’Hop.