GLENDALE, CA – A suspected child predator was arrested following a sting operation at the Glendale Galleria, where police say 23-year-old Abdul Rahim from Arcadia believed he was meeting a teenage boy. The arrest was part of a broader effort to combat online child exploitation, spearheaded by the vigilante group People Versus Preds.
Law enforcement was alerted to Rahim’s intentions after People Versus Preds, a group known for setting up sting operations by posing as minors on dating apps, contacted them. The group had allegedly been communicating with Rahim, pretending to be a 14-year-old boy, and reported that he expressed interest in meeting the minor despite knowing the boy’s age.
Upon receiving this information, Glendale police positioned themselves at the Galleria, ready to intervene. As Rahim approached the designated meeting spot, officers moved in to make an arrest. However, Rahim attempted to flee, prompting a brief chase through the mall’s parking garage before he surrendered.
Video footage captured by a member of People Versus Preds shows the tense moment Rahim tried to evade capture. The group, which operates independently of law enforcement, often records these confrontations to raise public awareness and assist in legal proceedings.
Glendale police clarified that while they don’t directly collaborate with the group, they respond to such situations like any other crime in progress. They emphasized the importance of acting on credible information to protect minors from potential harm.
Rahim now faces three felony charges and was arraigned in a Glendale courtroom. Despite the serious nature of the charges, he was released from jail following the hearing. The case highlights the ongoing challenges law enforcement faces in tackling online child exploitation, as well as the role private groups play in these efforts.
The incident has sparked a broader conversation about the ethics and effectiveness of vigilante operations in catching predators. While some praise the group’s actions, others question the legality and safety of such unsanctioned operations.
For more information about People Versus Preds and their activities, interested parties are encouraged to visit the group’s website.