SMC Man Arrested In Child Exploitation Sting

REDWOOD CITY, CA — A 31-year-old Redwood City man was arrested following a multi-day undercover operation targeting online child exploitation, police said. The Menlo Park Police Department, working with the Sunnyvale and Newark police departments and the Northern California Regional Intelligence Center, concluded the operation Thursday, leading to the arrest of Ricardo Antonio Romerolique.

Investigators posed as minors on social media to identify individuals seeking to exploit children, police said. The suspect reportedly contacted an undercover officer, learned the purported minor's age, and arranged to meet in Menlo Park, Menlo Park police said. According to the police, the suspect used sexually explicit language and sent graphic images before arriving at a predetermined location, where he was taken into custody.

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Romerolique was booked into San Mateo County Jail on suspicion of attempted lewd acts with a child under 14, contacting a minor with intent to commit a sex crime, and arranging to meet a minor for lewd purposes. Officials said the case highlights the ongoing threat of online child exploitation and urged parents to monitor their children's internet use and report suspicious activity to law enforcement or the National Sexual Assault Hotline 1-800-656-HOPE (4673).

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