Early Thursday, a 39-year-old man suspected of pedophilia was apprehended in Central Park during a sting operation conducted by a vigilante group, according to police and sources. The group’s efforts led to his arrest as he was allegedly attempting to lure a “teen” into a meeting.
Ryan Rosario had arranged to meet with a 22-year-old woman who had been pretending to be a 15-year-old girl seeking to “engage in sexual activity.” The meeting took place just after 1 a.m. at Central Park West and Columbus Circle, as reported by the police.
However, Rosario’s alleged intentions were thwarted by an Instagram user known as Ramy, who boasts 65,000 followers and claims to “obliterate predators” under the handle “obl.nation.” Ramy was present at the scene, sources indicated.
Officers from the NYPD arrived swiftly at the location, leading to the arrest of Rosario, who is from Bergen, New Jersey. He faces charges of luring a child and acting in a manner injurious to a child, according to the police.
The initial connection between Rosario and the woman remains unclear.
Footage shared on Ramy’s Instagram story shows Rosario being led away in handcuffs.
Rosario has a history of four prior arrests, including charges for marijuana possession and theft of service, but no previous sexual offenses, police stated.
On Thursday evening, his arraignment in Manhattan Criminal Court was pending.
