HERRIN, IL — A Herrin man was subsequently arrested by Herrin Police Thursday for Possession of Child Pornography and Violation of Sex Offender Registration.

According to Herrin Police, around 6:24 a.m. Thursday, police received a report of a suspicious male parked in a vehicle at a local business on South Park Avenue in Herrin. Officers identified the only male subject in the vehicle as 42-year-old Gary W. Shields of Herrin.

In the course of their investigation, officers obtained information that Shields was a Registered Sex Offender and currently on probation. Herrin Police detectives were called to interview Shields and discovered that he was using an open Wi-Fi connection at a business to obtain Child Pornography.

Herrin Police Chief David Dorris says if a local business sees something suspicious like this, please report it as soon as possible. If you see something, say something. Dorris says police need the public’s help in being their eyes and ears.

Shields is lodged on his charges in the Williamson County Jail.