LAPD creep snared by online vigilantes trying to meet with minor after making sure moms not home

A Los Angeles Police Department officer who was trying to meet up with a minor for obscene reasons was arrested in Monrovia after being confronted by a watchman group.The Monrovia Police Department said the incident took place on Oct.

22 right before 10 p.m.in the 300 block of West Olive Avenue.

The man arrested was identified as Leonardo A.Ruiz.

The 31-year-old was confronted by multiple men who are a part of social media group that says they defend minors who are being targeted for sexual purposes.Ashton Corona, who is part of this group, told KTLA that he spent three days exchanging messages with Ruiz, while pretending to be a 16-year-old girl online.“I’m just like, ‘You’re cute.’ He said, ‘Thanks.

What’s your address?’ And I just sent another picture,” Corona alleged while showing the messages to KTLA.Corona added that Ruiz also allegedly asked whether the girl’s mother would be home and talked about taking condoms.“I just wanna make sure your mom’s not home so nobody randomly pulls up,’” Corona told KTLA that Ruiz asked.Corona said that Ruiz arrived at the location they had agreed upon in their messages and the group confronted him as he tried to run away.“I walk out the gate.

He sees me, I see him.I tell him, ‘Just stop.

We’re trying to just talk to you.I know why you’re here.

We have all the messages,’” Corona told KTLA.Video of the incident that KTLA received showed Ruiz trying to flee the Monrovia neighborhood as multiple men ran after him yelling, “Don’t run! Don’t run!”The group eventually got ahold of Ruiz and sustained him until local police officers got to the scene.Meanwhile, members of the group ask Ruiz why he had gone to the Monrovia location.

“Why are you here? For no reason? Why did you come here?” one of the men is heard asking in the video.The men then found on Ruiz’s phone what looked like a photo of a police badge.

“It’s a cop’s phone!” one of them yelled.Corona said tha...