A Los Angeles Police Department officer has been arrested in connection with allegations that he attempted to meet a minor for lewd purposes in Monrovia, authorities confirmed Tuesday.
The LAPD acknowledged the arrest in a statement to media outlets, saying the department was aware of the incident involving an employee and was cooperating with the ongoing investigation.
Monrovia police officers responded at approximately 10 p.m. Thursday to an incident in the 300 block of West Olive Avenue, Chief of Police Sarah Covarrubias reported.
“After an investigation, Leonardo A. Ruiz, a 31-year-old male who stated he is an employee of the Los Angeles Police Department, was arrested for an alleged violation of California Penal Code section 288.4 — arranging a meeting with a minor, or someone believed to be a minor, for lewd purposes,” the chief said in a statement.
Ruiz was subsequently released pending further investigation, which Covarrubias said “is ongoing and no additional details are available for release.”
According to media reports, Ruiz was reportedly confronted by several men who said they were part of a social media group focused on exposing individuals suspected of seeking encounters with minors. The group allegedly believed Ruiz, who was off duty, had come to the area to meet a 16-year-old.
LAPD Detective Moses Castillo told Fox 11 that prosecutors had not filed charges while authorities continued looking into the allegations, emphasizing the seriousness of the claims.