Jonathan Guerrero
KEARNY –
A 32-year-old man was arrested last week after he allegedly accosted a 14-year-old girl on Kearny Ave. and then followed her into her apartment building.
KPD Chief John Dowie said Jonathan Guerrero of Kearny entered through the front door of the building, but the girl managed to shut and lock the vestibule door before he could get through that.
Police were alerted to the incident at 2:15 p.m., Sunday, Aug. 9, and Sgt. Scott Traynor and Officer Jose Resua took the report from the teen in the presence of her father.
The girl said she had been on the 300 block of Kearny Ave. when an adult man approached her and asked for her phone number, police reported. The girl ignored him and took refuge in a restaurant, but the man waited outside, and when she exited, he confronted her again and told her she was beautiful, police said.
She walked south on the avenue, and he allegedly followed, right into the front hallway of the building where she lived, but she was able to get the inner door closed.
Det. Ray Lopez checked for security cameras in the area and obtained some still images of the suspect from the videos. He canvassed the neighborhood with these, “and people were able to furnish some information,” Dowie told The Observer. Lopez got a first name for the man and was told that he might have formerly worked in a Harrison restaurant.
In Harrison, the detective was able to learn the suspect’s full name and obtain a phone number. Lopez and Det. Michael Gonzalez located Guerrero and brought him to headquarters for questioning.
He was subsequently charged with harassment and burglary (for entering the apartment building).
His bail was set at $10,000.
