A man was arrested for molesting a child while the child was walking to school.
The child said the man was armed with a knife during the assault. Police said the child attends an elementary school.
The suspect, David Joseph Hart, was arrested on Friday. He was accused of lewd and lascivious acts with a child, assault with the intent to commit a felony, false imprisonment, sexual battery, and child endangering.
Hart may have been involved in other incidents that weren't reported. If residents have any information about this case or similar incidents, they are urged to contact the detective by email at gormana@city ofmerced.org.
There is a case number
At 8:21 a.m., officers responded to a call. The child was sexually assault while walking to school. The assault took place near the K-8 school on E. Childs Ave., according to a police lieutenant.
The man was harassing the juvenile in the same area in August. The footage from the previous incident was obtained by detectives. During the October incident, detectives were able to find the same white Jeep on the same route.
Police believe that Hart is the suspect in the two August and October cases.
In order to identify him, detectives looked at hundreds of license plate reader photos and found a vehicle that was registered to Hart's ex- wife. Hart was arrested after he left his job.
Shortly before Hart was arrested, police said they were looking for a suspect in a sexual assault case.
A man is wanted for sexually abusing a child. The police responded to that report. The first day of October. The age and gender of the child were not shared by the police.
Police said a warrant had been issued for the arrest of the man. There are warrants for his arrest for assault with the intent to commit a felony, oral copulation with a minor and lewd or lascivious acts with a minor.
If you have information about that incident, please contact the police. Samuel Sannadan can be reached by email at sannadans@city ofmerced.org. There is a case number
The phone numbers and emails for detectives were shared by the police.
Call or text the emergency number.
Call for non-emergencies.
The tip line is non- emergency.
You can submit anonymous tips online at merced areacrimestoppers.org.
The city ofmerced.org/departments/ police can be used to report certain crimes.
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