Yesterday at approximately 6:30 AM, an unsettling incident occurred at a bus stop in Upper Merion Township when a 14-year-old student was reportedly approached and grabbed by a man while she awaited her school bus. This incident took place along the 100 block of Jefferson Street, in the Swedesburg section of the township.
In a quick response, local authorities managed to arrest a 36-year-old Norristown man, with the Upper Merion and Bridgeport Police embarking on the search soon after receiving the distress call. As seen in 6ABC's report, the girl executed a hasty getaway from the aggressor, phoning her mother while escaping the dangerous proximity. The arrested man is now facing misdemeanor disorderly conduct and harassment charges.
Neighbor Nicole Yacovetti relayed the harrowing scene, having heard "screaming and crying coming from the corner of my street." She, along with others, came out to console the visibly distressed girl, who, according to Yacovetti, was "just crying, saying, 'Somebody tried to take my little sister.'" These details were corroborated by 6ABC.
Meanwhile, community members have expressed shock at the occurrence in what is known to be a generally quiet area. As Chuck Dinolfi, a local resident told 6ABC, "That doesn't happen in this area. It's not like that around here." With the suspect currently in police custody and unable to post the $5,000 bail, the preliminary hearing is still pending. The Upper Merion Investigations Division has encouraged anyone with information regarding the case to come forward, as stated by CRIMEWATCH.
