SACRAMENTO, Calif. — A 39-year-old Sacramento man was arrested last week after allegedly communicating online with someone he believed to be a minor during a California Highway Patrol undercover operation, officials said Thursday.
Michael Dominic Thomas Lumsden was taken into custody by the CHP’s Computer Crimes Investigation Unit (CCIU) on July 31, shortly before 4 a.m., after arriving at a location in Sacramento where he had arranged a meeting. The person he had been messaging was an undercover investigator posing as a 13-year-old.
The investigation began on July 24 when the suspect initiated contact online. Over the course of several days, CHP investigators say Lumsden sent a series of messages and made plans to meet in person. Officers collected digital evidence and conducted surveillance before making the arrest.
Lumsden was booked into the Sacramento County Main Jail on multiple felony charges, including attempting to arrange a meeting with a minor and sending harmful material. He remains in custody as the case proceeds.
The CCIU, which handles computer-based crimes statewide, conducts proactive investigations related to online safety. It also assists other law enforcement agencies with digital forensic analysis and collaborates with the Sacramento Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force.
CHP officials said the unit continues to expand its efforts to address the growing misuse of online platforms.
