Man Catfished In Valentine's Day Online Dating Scheme In Secaucus

SECAUCUS, NJ — People in Secaucus catfished a man online into thinking he would be meeting with a 15-year-old girl, and the man was arrested by Secaucus Police, said police Monday.

The man, 37, from Queens, was arrested at 12:15 a.m. Saturday at the Osprey Cove apartment complex at 45 Meadowlands Parkway and charged with endangering the welfare of a child, exhibiting obscene material to someone under 18 and criminal attempt to commit luring or enticing a child.

Secaucus Police said this was "a couple of vigilantes" who purported online to be a 15-year-old girl. They chatted with the Queens man online and told him to come to Secaucus, where he "intended on meeting who he reasonably believed to be a 15-year-old female for sex," said police.

It is unknown if the people lived in Osprey Cove apartments, but that is where they told the man to meet them. When he got there, he was arrested by Secaucus Police.

"There was no relation to Secaucus, except the vigilante(s) intended the meeting to occur here," said Police Chief Dennis Miller. "They engaged in a conversation with the male online. They have no affiliation and were not directed by law enforcement. I am not a proponent of this kind of vigilante operation, however, the on-scene investigation developed ample probable cause, which the arrest was based on."

The man was given a complaint summons and was released from police custody.

Police declined to release any further information.