Woodbury man touched boy and girl 'inappropriately' at Hicksville mall, police say
Hector Castro, 52, of Woodbury. Credit: NCPD
A Woodbury man was arrested and charged with two counts of endangering the welfare of a child after Nassau County police said he touched a boy and a girl in separate incidents Monday at the Broadway Mall in Hicksville.
Investigators are now trying to determine if the man, identified as Hector Castro, 52, is linked to any similar incidents. Police are asking any potential victims to contact Second Squad detectives at 516-573-6352.
Police said that in the first incident Castro approached a 7-year-old boy and "grabbed his leg inappropriately," but fled when confronted by the boy's mother. A short time later, police said, Castro approached an 11-year-old girl and "touched her inappropriately."
He then fled, police said.
Police said that responding officers found Castro at "a nearby location." They did not disclose details of the arrest, other than that it took place at about 5:20 p.m.
Castro now faces arraignment Tuesday in First District Court in Hempstead. No online information about his status was available. It was not clear if he was represented by an attorney.
John Valenti, a reporter at Newsday since 1981, has been honored nationally by the Associated Press and Society of the Silurians for investigative, enterprise and breaking news reporting, as well as column writing, and is the author of “Swee'pea,” a book about former New York playground basketball star Lloyd Daniels. Valenti is featured in the Emmy Award-winning ESPN 30-for-30 film “Big Shot.”
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