A 46-year-old Riverside County man was taken into custody after a group of vigilante teenagers, one of whom the man had sent nude photographs of himself, set up a sting to have him arrested late last week.  

The Nov. 15 incident, according to a news release from the Riverside County Sheriff’s Department, unfolded around 4:30 p.m. at Nicolas Road Park in Temecula.  

Authorities told KTLA’s Shelby Nelson that deputies were tipped off that the suspect, now identified as Homeland resident William Vandenbush, was allegedly meeting a minor at the park for “sexual purposes.”  

“When deputies arrived at to that scene, there were probably 20 other juveniles there,” RCSD Sgt. Diedre Vickers told KTLA.  

While many of the teens had their cellphones out and recorded the encounter, deputies detained the 46-year-old and waited for detectives to respond to the scene.  

“The investigation revealed that Vandenbush sent nude photographs and agreed to meet a minor for sexual purposes,” the release detailed.  

The Homeland resident was arrested and booked at the Cois Byrd Detention Center in Murrieta to await charges for sending harmful matter to a minor, contacting a minor for sexual purposes and arranging to meet with a minor for sexual purposes.  

“Good for the teens but scary at the same time,” Faye Houck, a Murrieta resident who often brings her children to the park.  

She and Tamryn Jung, also a mother from Murrieta, said that they find the situation alarming because of the risks of confronting an alleged sexual predator.  

“I’m a former teacher and I would say that although they think it’s admirable, that they wanted to do this, I think the risk would outweigh the benefits,” Jung said. 

Sgt. Vickers agreed, saying these situations are even dangerous for law enforcement who have the proper training in these situations.  

“Not just kids, it’s risky for anyone that decides to do this type of vigilante investigation,” she explained. “You’re catching someone at their most vulnerable time. There’s no way to predict what they’re going to do, how they’re going to react.”  

The Sheriff’s Department’s news release echoed Vickers comments, saying, “This action unnecessarily jeopardized the safety of everyone in the vicinity of the park.”  

The investigation into the incident remains open and anyone with information is urged to contact Investigator Alissa Morris or Deputy Kevin Au at 951-696-3000.  

Emergency crews are attempting to rescue a woman from a tunnel in the Westlake neighborhood of Los Angeles Tuesday morning.

Firefighters were called to the 500 block of South Bixel Street around 8:20 a.m. on reports of a female entering a tunnel and being unable to exit, the Los Angeles Fire Department stated in a news alert.

The patient was able to communicate with arriving crewmembers and did not mention any injuries and did not seem to be in distress, the Fire Department stated.

An Urban Search and Rescue Team was also sent to the location.

Sky5 was over the scene at 9:45 a.m. where crews could be seen standing near a ladder leading into the tunnel.

Check back for updates on this developing story.

If you’re looking to spend a vacation at sea but haven’t decided which cruise line is best for your specific needs, a new online ranking shows the best options for every type of traveler, from families to luxury seekers.

U.S. News & World Report has released its 2025 Best Cruise Lines rankings, highlighting 18 of the most popular cruise lines across six categories ranging from couples and families, to which distinct parts of the globe you’re looking to experience.

From cruises that offer the best bang for your buck to experiences that spare no expense, the rankings aim to help travelers select the perfect cruise vacation based on expert evaluations, traveler ratings and other key factors.

Viking Ocean Cruises topped three categories: Best Luxury Cruise Lines, Best Cruise Lines for Couples, and Best Cruise Lines in the Mediterranean.

Disney Cruise Line also made a strong showing, maintaining its No. 1 positions in Best Cruise Lines for Families and Best Cruise Lines in the Caribbean.

And for thrifty vacationers, Celebrity Cruises earned the title of Best Cruise Line for the Money.

“Given the variety of cruise lines available, these rankings provide travelers a way to compare features, amenities, and offerings to find the right cruise,” said Nicola Wood, senior travel editor at U.S. News.

2025 Best Cruise Lines Highlights

Best Cruise Lines for the Money

1. Celebrity Cruises
2. Virgin Voyages
3. MSC Cruises

Best Cruise Lines for Families

1. Disney Cruise Line
2. Royal Caribbean International
3. Norwegian Cruise Line

Best Cruise Lines for Couples

1. Viking Ocean Cruises
2. Seabourn Cruise Line
3. Celebrity Cruises

Best Luxury Cruise Lines

1. Viking Ocean Cruises
2. Seabourn Cruise Line
3. Regent Seven Seas Cruises

The rankings were based primarily on three main factors: expert evaluations (30%), traveler ratings (50%), and health ratings from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s Vessel Sanitation Program (20%). Expert ratings assessed the ship’s luxury, facilities and services, while traveler reviews provided first-hand insights into the experience of being onboard one of the ships.

Each cruise line was also evaluated on factors including price, family suitability, and destination options. Cruise ships and lines were only included in rankings if they met a minimum threshold for traveler reviews or itinerary availability.

For a full list of rankings and insights, visit U.S. News Cruise Rankings.