Police ID suspect who tried to kiss teen

GREENWICH — Local police say they’ve identified a suspect who tried to kiss a 17-year-old girl while she was walking her dog in Riverside last month, after he was arrested by police in Milford and charged with public indecency and stalking.

Hilmer Santos Roca, 32, of Bridgeport was arrested by Milford police after several customers reported he was following them around a craft store over the weekend and touching them.

Roca has not been charged in connection with the incident last month in Greenwich, but police have identified him as a suspect and say they will apply for a warrant for his arrest.

Around 7 p.m. on Feb. 18, the man approached the girl as she was walking near Walgreens and Fitness Edge on East Putnam Avenue. The man, who was described as being between 30 and 40 years old, approached the girl and started chatting with her about her dog.

The man then grabbed the girl’s hand and called her pretty. When the girl pulled her hand away, the man attempted to kiss her and rub his face on hers.

The girl then broke free and ran away. The man got into a vehicle and left the scene, according to police. Police later released a photo of the suspect asking for the public’s help identifying him.

Greenwich police said after the incident, a flyer with the suspect’s photo was circulated to the public and information was shared with other law enforcement agencies, leading them to identify Roca as a suspect.

The incident in Greenwich remains under investigation, police said in a tweet Tuesday.

On Sunday, several customers at a Michaels on Turnpike Square in Milford reported a man had followed them around inside the store. He got close to several people and touched them, according to police.

Roca left the store by the time officers arrived, but mall security reported other people inside the mall had complained about Roca, police said. Authorities caught up with him at a Boscov’s department store, where he was arrested.

Roca was charged with three counts of seconddegree breach of peace, three counts of public indecency and two counts of third-degree stalking for the alleged incidents in Milford. He was given a $10,000 bond and is due to appear in court on those charges Monday.