A 29-year-old man from Pittsburgh was arrested in Medina after police say he drove about 2.5 hours to meet someone he matched with on Tinder. According to officers, the person he believed was 19 told him they were actually 14, and body‑camera footage shows the man admitting he made the trip to meet the minor.
Arrest at Lake Medina
Body‑camera video obtained by local media shows officers confronting the man at Lake Medina and asking whether he had driven there to meet a 14-year-old. He replied, "yes." Court documents cited by the station say he was arraigned last Friday on a solicitation charge and also faces a cocaine‑possession count. He is scheduled for a preliminary hearing on the drug charge tomorrow at 11 a.m., as reported by News 5 Cleveland.
Expert: Watch For Online Enticement
Tim Dimoff, identified in the station’s report as a national law‑enforcement procedures and security expert, urged parents to get in front of the problem by talking with kids about online safety, setting boundaries around screen time and considering parental‑control apps. The station’s coverage includes Dimoff’s advice for families on monitoring device use and spotting warning signs, according to News 5 Cleveland.
A Broader National Spike
National data underline how widespread online enticement has become. The National Center for Missing & Exploited Children says its CyberTipline received 21.3 million reports in 2025, including about 1.4 million reports of online enticement, which amounts to roughly a 158% increase over 2024. The organization also recorded more than 800 reports in which an offender traveled to meet a child in person. That mid‑year rise followed new reporting rules and broader platform compliance, which officials say have generated more tips and more cross‑jurisdiction investigations. See the CyberTipline data at NCMEC.
Charges And Legal Context
Ohio’s criminal code includes importuning and grooming provisions that make it illegal to solicit or prepare a minor for sexual activity, and prosecutors can add telecommunications‑related counts when apps or electronic messages are involved. Cocaine‑possession allegations are handled separately and carry their own penalties. As with any criminal case, the accused is presumed innocent until proven guilty. For the statutory language, see Ohio Revised Code chapter 2907.
What To Do If You See Something
Medina police declined an on‑camera interview for the station’s story, and the local report did not identify the man by name. Parents who see suspicious messages or possible grooming behavior are encouraged to contact local law enforcement and report tips to the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children’s CyberTipline, which also offers resources on talking to kids about online safety, as per NCMEC.
