Ex-cop registered as sex offender tried to coax girls into car, California police say

A former cop and registered sex offender tried to entice two Walnut Creek girls into his car by saying he needed help looking for a lost dog, California police say.

Miguel Schiappapietra, 37, faces charges including annoying or molesting a child, contacting a minor to commit a felony and attempted lewd or lascivious acts on a child, the Walnut Creek Police Department said in an Aug. 5 news release. His bail has been set at $1.3 million

Schiappapietra served as a Los Angeles police officer for six years, KRON reported

In 2013, he pleaded no contest to sexually molesting one girl and attempting to molest another after luring them to his home, KTLA reported. The girls were 5 and 8 years old.

On July 3, Schiappapietra drove up to two middle school-aged girls outside a Target store and tried to coerce them into getting into his car, Walnut Creek police said.

The girls ran away and police arrested Schiappapietra after an “extensive investigation,” the release said. Police thanked Target for its assistance.

“As children return to school in the coming week, this is a good time for parents and guardians to talk to their kids about safety,” police said. “It is important they understand that adults who truly need help will ask other adults, not children.”

Police ask anyone with information on the July 3 incident or similar cases to call detective Katie Eames at 925-943-5870 or police at 925-943-5844.

Walnut Creek is a city of 70,000 east of San Francisco Bay.