A 24-year-old Queens crossing guard named Jared Jeridore was arrested after trying to lure who he thought was a 14-year-old girl into a sexual encounter. In reality, the person he was communicating with turned out to be an undercover cop posing as a teenager on Instagram. The criminal complaint detailed how Jeridore sent sexually explicit messages, photos, and videos to the undercover cop, asking her to meet him at a hotel in Queens for sex. The undercover operation was launched after receiving complaints from minors about the crossing guard, who worked near York Early College Academy in South Jamaica.
Investigators arranged for the undercover cop to meet Jeridore at the corner where he worked, exchanging Instagram handles in the process. Jeridore continued to send explicit messages, stating that he couldn’t wait for their meeting. When he showed up at the hotel for the planned rendezvous, he was met by the police, who found condoms on him. He was subsequently charged with attempted rape, attempted use of a child in a sexual performance, and other crimes. Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz emphasized the importance of young people being able to trust adults who are supposed to keep them safe, highlighting how Jeridore violated that trust.
In one of his messages, Jeridore thanked the undercover cop for allowing him to be the nicest crossing guard and also made reference to her age, indicating that he was well aware of her being a teenager. This only added to the severity of the charges against him. Following his arrest, Jeridore was suspended by the NYPD and later resigned from his position. His court date is set for June 7th. The incident highlights the dangers that young individuals face when adults in positions of authority and trust abuse their power, as in this case where a crossing guard used his position to attempt to engage in inappropriate sexual behavior with what he believed to be a minor.
The arrest of Jeridore serves as a warning to others who may be engaging in similar activities, as law enforcement agencies are actively working to protect young people from predators. The case also underscores the importance of parents, teachers, and other individuals being vigilant and watching for signs of inappropriate or harmful behavior towards minors. While cases like these are disturbing, they also shed light on the need for ongoing efforts to protect vulnerable individuals and hold perpetrators accountable for their actions. Jeridore’s case will continue to be followed as it progresses through the legal system, with the hope that justice will be served and that young people will be kept safe from harm in the future.
