A Bay Park-based Episcopal priest, Rev. Roger Haenke, has found himself under general scrutiny after a sting by an online citizen group, People v. Preds. The group, which performs sting operations against suspected online predators, uploaded a video on August 4, 2025, wherein it showed Haenke apparently being stung outside his residence upon discussions, which he assumed were with 14- and 15-year-old boys, on the app Grindr, a dating platform.
The alleged incident took place in early August and gained significant momentum on all major social media platforms. There have been no authenticated criminal charges or official investigations to date, and no independent confirmation by law enforcement or legacy news sources has transpired.
Rev. Roger Haenke currently serves as the rector at St. John’s Episcopal Church in San Diego. A veteran Roman Catholic priest, Haenke graduated from St. Paul Seminary in Minnesota in 1991 after being ordained. He became an Episcopal Church cleric, officially received into the church in 2017.
In addition to his religious service, Haenke has a background in healthcare, holding a B.S. in Nursing and working in pediatric and administrative roles at institutions such as Sharp Healthcare and Family Health Centers of San Diego. He also teaches nursing part-time at San Diego State University. Haenke is married to Cliff Berkowitz.
The video, filmed and distributed by People v. Preds, shows a member of the group confronting Haenke outside his residence while his husband is present. The footage includes Haenke acknowledging that he uses Grindr, a dating app that is restricted to users 18 and older, but refusing to confirm how many individuals he had messaged.
“I don’t know their ages,”
Haenke says in the video.
“I assume they’re all of age.”
When asked directly about interactions with underage profiles, Haenke denied knowingly communicating with minors and physically attempted to stop the recording by removing the camera from view. The group claims to have logs of chat conversations and has stated its intention to provide these to Haenke’s church and employer.
People v. Preds is one of several groups operating what are known as civilian sting operations privately organized confrontations where adults are lured by decoys posing as minors online. While not illegal in themselves, these actions raise concerns among legal experts. Critics argue that they may compromise formal investigations, rely on questionable methods, and bypass due process.
In spite of all this, the group reports to have led to 110 arrests and 17 convictions from 354 exposures. However, results have been diverse, and all cases rely on admissibility of evidence and cooperation from police departments.
To date, no public statement has been issued by St. John’s Episcopal Church, Episcopal Diocese of San Diego, or San Diego State University. Nonetheless, in similar prior instances, the Episcopal Church has pursued internal disciplinary action within its Title IV canons, which provide grounds for investigations and potential removal from ministry.
A tweet from X.
The video’s viral spread has sparked strong reactions online, ranging from outrage to skepticism. In the absence of verified legal findings, digital misinformation remains a concern. While citizen-led accountability can expose serious wrongdoing, experts caution against drawing final conclusions based solely on unverified online videos.
The next steps in this developing story remain uncertain. Authorities have not commented, and without formal charges, Haenke’s status within his church and university is unclear. If the church receives evidence, it may launch an internal inquiry. Meanwhile, the public awaits whether law enforcement will intervene or whether the confrontation will remain a moment of viral exposure without legal consequence.
