Rape Case Suspect Is Arrested at School

An Arizona man has been arrested at a Fullerton middle school on suspicion of raping a 13-year-old girl he had met over the Internet, police said.

Edward C. Swanstrom, 46, of Tucson was arrested Tuesday at Ladera Vista Junior High School for investigation of rape and kidnapping, Det. Adrian Wardle said. He was being held at Fullerton City Jail on $500,000 bail.

Swanstrom met the girl on the Internet last fall, and their relationship escalated into gifts, telephone calls and sexual encounters, investigators said. The girl’s mother learned about the relationship and ordered Swanstrom to stop seeing her daughter.

But contact between the girl and Swanstrom continued, investigators said. On Tuesday, the girl told friends she was going to meet Swanstrom, and the friends told school officials, who contacted the mother and police.

Detectives staked out the school and arrested Swanstrom before he could contact the girl, investigators said. Police searched his vehicle and said there was evidence of plans to entice the girl away for sex.

On Wednesday, the school sent letters home to parents about the incident and reminded them to monitor their children’s e-mail and personal messages. The letters also urged youngsters never to give out personal information on the Internet.