A Los Angeles police officer was arrested in Monrovia on Oct. 22 after a confrontation with a group that says it targets people suspected of trying to meet minors. A video of the encounter has since spread widely online.
The officer, identified as Leonardo Arturo Ruiz, was booked and then released hours later without charges. Authorities say the investigation is still under way.
Ashton, a member of the group YN_ Vs_Preds, said he spent three days communicating with Ruiz while posing as a 16-year-old girl. He said the conversation gradually moved toward meeting in person. "We were talking about how our day went, then he said, 'Would you want to hang out?'" Ashton said. "He kept saying, 'You know what I want to do.'"
According to Ashton, Ruiz later asked whether he should bring condoms, and then arrived at the agreed location expecting to meet a teenage girl. He instead found Ashton and other members of the group. The group alleges Ruiz tried to run, and that members chased him and held him until Monrovia police arrived.
Ashton said he did not initially know Ruiz was a police officer. "I told him again I was 16 years old, and at this point in time, I didn't even know he was a police officer," he said. "I was assuming he was a normal guy."
The Monrovia Police Department said officers responded at about 9:59 p.m. on Oct. 22 to the 300 block of W. Olive Ave. After an investigation, a 30-year-old man was arrested for an alleged violation of California Penal Code section 288.4, which covers arranging a meeting with a minor, or someone believed to be a minor, for lewd purposes. The department said the investigation is ongoing and no further details were available.
The Los Angeles Police Department said in a statement: "We are aware of an arrest involving a Department employee. The Department is fully cooperating with the investigation."
Retired LAPD Detective Moses Castillo said the lack of charges does not mean the case is closed. "No charges were filed pending further investigation," he said. Castillo explained that the LAPD could pursue both administrative and criminal inquiries to determine whether department policies were broken and whether charges are warranted. "These are very serious allegations," he said, adding that the public would not want a police officer involved in this type of alleged activity.
Several questions remain unanswered. The LAPD has not said publicly whether Ruiz is still on duty, and it is not known how long he has worked for the department. It is also unclear whether prosecutors will file charges once investigators complete their review. Ruiz has not been charged, and the allegations against him have not been proven.
