Los Angeles, Ca
Suspected child predator captured in Glendale sting operation
Video captured the moment a suspected child predator was captured by police during a sting operation in Glendale.
The suspect, Ryan Abdelrahim, 23, of Arcadia, had allegedly planned to meet a 14-year-old boy outside of a Target store at the Glendale Galleria mall on Feb. 19.
The meeting was orchestrated by a private group called People v. Preds. The group aims to capture suspected child predators by communicating with them online before luring them into meeting an underage victim.
“We make accounts on dating apps and pose as underage children,” explained a spokesperson for People v. Preds. “So people reach out to us and we let them know we’re underage and the conversation continues, goes sexual and usually the people come to meet that said child.”
The group said they had been communicating with Abdelrahim online while they pretended to be a 14-year-old boy.
“Shortly into the conversation, he knew that he was speaking to somebody who was underage and he was very interested in hanging out and and doing sexual things with the 14-year-old,” the spokesperson said.
The group notified Glendale Police after Abdelrahim reportedly agreed to meet up with who he believed was a 14-year-old boy.
Footage from the arrest shows the suspect standing outside a Target store as a group of officers suddenly surround him.
As Abdelrahim realizes what’s happening, he takes off running and sprints into a nearby parking garage as several officers quickly chase after him.
After a brief foot chase, Abdelrahim stops running and surrenders to police.
“They’re not acting as our agents and they’re not doing this at our behest,” explained Glendale Police Lt. Steve Corrigan of People vs. Preds. “But once they set up these types of meetings, and they feel the person has committed a crime, they call us and we respond to it like we would any other call for a crime that’s in progress.”
Abdelrahim is facing three felony charges and was arraigned Friday morning in Glendale before being released as the case remains under investigation.
Footage of the arrest can be seen in the video player above.
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