On April 1, 2016 at approximately 11:00 AM, Covina Police Officers responded to a Covina City Park, referencing a complaint that an adult male had attempted to lure a 4 year old female into the men’s public restroom at the park. The mother of the victim was able to prevent the child from going with the adult and did not confront the adult male. The victim’s mother maintained a visual observation of the suspect and contacted the Covina Police Department to report the incident.
Responding Covina Police Officers located the male suspect still in the park and detained him pending further investigation. Initially the suspect denied having any contact with the victim; however, he was positively identified and placed under citizen’s arrest for Child Annoyance, PC 647.6 PC. As officers continued their investigation, they determined the suspect, Matthew James Smith (49 year old transient), was an out of compliance sex registrant and he was additionally charged with Failing to Register as a Sex Offender, PC 290.018(A).
Smith was transported to the Covina Police Department where he is being held on $20,000 bail. He is scheduled to be arraigned at Citrus Superior Court on April 4, 2016.
