38-year-old man arrested in Coral Springs after teen’s mother discovers them inside park restroom stall

Coral Springs, Florida – A 38-year-old man from Margate is facing serious felony charges after Coral Springs police say he was found inside a park restroom stall with a 15-year-old boy during an incident that was interrupted by the teen’s mother at a local nature area.

The arrest involves Roberto Andres Vallejo, who is charged with lewd and lascivious battery on a victim between the ages of 12 and 16, according to police records. He was booked into the Broward County Jail, where his bond was set at $50,000.

The case stems from an incident at Tall Cypress Nature Area, located at 3700 Turtle Run Blvd. in Coral Springs. According to the police report, the teen’s mother dropped her son off at the park so he could take nature photographs. Later, when she returned to pick him up, she noticed unusual behavior that would lead to a disturbing discovery.

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Police said the mother parked near the men’s restroom and saw a man enter shortly before her arrival. The teen did not answer repeated phone calls, though he later texted his mother asking for additional time at the park. Feeling uneasy, she decided to go into the restroom herself.

Inside, she reportedly opened the stall door and found her son inside the only stall, with Vallejo standing in front of him. When she called out her son’s name, authorities say Vallejo immediately fled the restroom. The mother then followed him outside and was able to photograph his license plate as he left the parking lot, a detail that later helped investigators.

During a police interview, the teen described earlier events that began while he was walking through the park and scrolling on TikTok. He said he saw an advertisement for SNIFFERS, a location-based app used for connecting adults in casual encounters. The teen told investigators that the app showed an icon indicating someone nearby.

According to the report, the teen entered the restroom where he encountered Vallejo. He said there was brief conversation, including questions about age and intent. The teen told police he claimed to be 18, and later described how the situation escalated inside the restroom stall. He was later able to identify Vallejo in a photo lineup.

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Police also documented Vallejo’s account during questioning. He admitted being in the restroom stall with the teen but denied any sexual activity. He told investigators the teen had offered a “sexual massage,” and claimed he was only present while the teen spoke to him about sexual favors. Officers noted inconsistencies between the accounts as the investigation continued.

As part of the case, police took Vallejo’s phone into evidence. According to the report, the device displayed the Grindr XTRA app, a paid version of a widely used dating platform. Investigators included this detail in their findings as part of the broader context of the arrest.

Vallejo was taken into custody and remains held at the Broward County Jail as the case moves forward. Authorities have not released additional details, and the investigation remains ongoing under Coral Springs police.