Police arrested a 48-year-old Rowland Heights man Friday on suspicion of molesting a 15-year-old Redlands boy over several months. The man met the teen in an online chat room, according to a news release issued by city spokesman Carl Baker.

Officers arrested Joe Phillip Morales in Highland.

Morales met the 15-year-old boy in an online chat room in November 2010 and began a relationship with him, according to the news release. The boy was reported as a runaway Feb. 16 along with a 15-year-old girl.

Family members told police the boy and girl were with Morales but they did not know their location, according to the news release. Officers found the teens three days later in San Diego and returned to Redlands. Police interviewed the juveniles and learned the name of the suspect.

Morales was arrested for multiple lewd acts with the boy spanning from November 2010 to February 2011.

Read Jesse Gill’s story at LEWD.