Teen Arrested After Craigslist Sex Ad Catches Attention of EPD Internet Crimes Specialists

Elmhurst police have arrested a 17-year-old for using Craigslist to solicit sex from an undercover officer posing as a 13-year-old girl.

Elmhurst Police Chief Michael Ruth told Elmhurst Patch last summer that the department has dedicated specially trained officers to go after Internet predators. 

"We've kind of taken a proactive role in that," Ruth said at the time, adding Craigslist is a launch point of many such investigations.

In this case, on or about Nov. 1 police discovered a Craigslist ad seeking sex with a female "of any age," police said.

Over a four-day period, investigators communicated back and forth via email and text messages with the teen. The Daily Herald has identified him as Adrian Torres of Addison.

An Elmhurst police officer posing as a 13-year-old girl arranged to meet with him at 5:25 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 5, to "engage in sexual activity," according to the police report.

When police arrived at the meeting place, they arrested Torres and charged him with grooming and traveling to meet a minor. He was taken to DuPage County Jail. 

Torres allegedly said he wanted to "teach her" how to have sex, according to the Herald.

Bail was set at $30,000, and he is scheduled to be in court again Dec. 2.

Patch reports on law enforcement activity using information provided by official agencies. Persons charged with a crime or issued a citation for violation of a local ordinance are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law. If you or a family member are charged with a crime or cited for a violation and the charge or citation is subsequently adjudicated, we encourage you to contact karenc@patch.com and we will do follow-up reporting on the case.