Leonardo Arturo Ruiz was released without charges as authorities continued investigating allegations stemming from an online exchange and confrontation in Monrovia.
LOS ANGELES, CA — A Los Angeles Police Department officer was arrested after a group accused him of trying to meet someone he allegedly believed was a 16-year-old girl, according to a local news report and statements from the group. The officer was released hours later without charges while the investigation continued.
Leonardo Arturo Ruiz was taken into custody following a confrontation involving YN_ Vs_Preds, a group that says it targets people suspected of trying to arrange meetings with minors. The allegations against Ruiz have not been proven, and authorities had not announced criminal charges against him as of Tuesday. The LAPD confirmed that an employee had been arrested and said the department was cooperating with the investigation.
A member of YN_ Vs_Preds identified as Ashton told FOX 11 Los Angeles that he communicated with Ruiz for three days while posing online as a 16-year-old girl. Ashton alleged that the conversation eventually shifted toward an in-person meeting. His account is an allegation from a member of the group and has not been established in court.
According to Ashton, Ruiz eventually arrived at a planned meeting location but encountered members of the group rather than a teenage girl. The group alleged that Ruiz tried to leave the scene and that its members pursued and held him until Monrovia police arrived. FOX 11 reported that jail records showed Ruiz was arrested and released several hours later without charges.
Ashton said he did not initially know that the person he was communicating with was an LAPD officer. He told FOX 11 that he repeatedly represented himself as being 16 during the exchanges. The full messages and other evidence being reviewed by investigators have not been publicly released, making it unclear what authorities have independently verified from the group’s account.
The LAPD acknowledged the arrest in a brief statement provided to FOX 11. “We are aware of an arrest involving a Department employee,” the agency said. “The Department is fully cooperating with the investigation.” The department did not publicly say whether Ruiz remained on active duty or had been placed on administrative leave.
Retired LAPD Detective Moses Castillo told the station that Ruiz’s release without charges did not necessarily mean the investigation had ended. He said authorities could continue examining whether criminal charges are warranted while the LAPD separately reviews whether department policies were violated. Any administrative investigation would be distinct from a decision by prosecutors on whether there is enough evidence to file a criminal case.
The circumstances surrounding the arrest also highlight the role played by private groups that conduct online operations involving people they suspect of seeking contact with minors. In this case, the initial allegations came from members of such a group rather than from a teenage victim identified by authorities. Investigators must independently assess the communications, the circumstances of the planned meeting and other available evidence before prosecutors determine whether criminal charges are appropriate.
Ruiz had not been charged as of the latest public reporting, and the allegations remain unproven. Authorities had not announced whether the case had been submitted to prosecutors or when a charging decision might be made. The LAPD said it was cooperating with the investigation, while Ruiz’s current duty status had not been publicly disclosed.
Author note: Last updated October 27, 2026.