Manhattan
By Geoffrey Croft
A visit to Washington Square Park turned into a nightmare for a twelve-year-old girl when a stalker followed her home, NYC Park Advocates has learned.
The girl was in the park with her best friend and her friend’s mother near the dog run around 12:30pm. on Monday.
After the girl’s friend and mom left a strange man approached her and asked, “will you ride me?”
The man muttered other phrases the child didn’t understand according to police.
The girl quickly walked away but the assailant followed her home. When she entered her building on 9th Street the man continued and got into the elevator with her where he asked, “I was recently let out of jail, can I hide in your apartment?”
When the elevator arrived at her floor the terrified girl ran out and into her apartment. Her mother called the police.
The stalker disappeared.
Police responded. They saw a man a few blocks away on 10th Street & Broadway that matched his description.
Police arrested Carl Catapano, 39, a resident of 26 E. 11th Street.
Catapano was charged with Stalking, Harassment and Endangering The Welfare of a Child.
He is being held on a $15,000 bond or $5,000 cash bail.
He is being held on a $15,000 bond or $5,000 cash bail.
On January 15th Catapano was given a desk appearance ticket for panhandling in a subway station. On December 4, 2015 he was arrested for marijuana possession. On February 25, 2006 he was arrested for assault and criminal mischief.
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