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Fort Zumwalt South Middle School janitor arrested after 'predator catcher' group turns him in to police

In a text to families, school leaders confirmed an employee at Fort Zumwalt South Middle School was placed on administrative leave.

UNIVERSITY CITY, Mo. — A St. Louis County man who worked as a janitor at a Fort Zumwalt South Middle School was charged Sunday with attempted enticement of a child after an online "predator catcher" group turned over information to the University City police, charging documents said.

Richard Manor, a 48-year-old St. Ann resident, was charged Sunday, a day after an online group turned him in to University City police during a live stream.

According to a press release from the University City Police Department, officers received a call on Saturday from a group called Predator Catchers Incorporated about a decoy sting they were performing. The group told the officers that they had been posing as a 13-year-old girl on Instagram and chatting with Manor.

According to charging documents, the group told police Manor arranged to meet the girl at Flynn Park in University City "for the purpose of having sex with 'her,'"

Charging documents said Manor was a janitor at a school in the area. 

The Fort Zumwalt School District confirmed to 5 On Your Side that an employee of the school district was the subject of a police investigation. In a text to families, school leaders confirmed an employee from Fort Zumwalt South Middle School had been placed on administrative leave.

"The safety of our students and staff always comes first," a spokesperson with Fort Zumwalt said in an email. "The employee in question was immediately put on administrative leave and has not returned to the district."

The charge, attempted enticement or attempted enticement of a child, is a class U felony. Manor's bond was set at $250,000, cash only. 

Credit: University City PD
Richard Manor was charged with enticement of a child under 14.

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