A 28-year-old Liberty County man is accused of inappropriately touching juveniles and exposing himself inside the Cleveland Walmart, authorities say.
The suspect, Daniel Salvador Perez, was arrested Sept. 20 by Cleveland Police Department at the Walmart store located at 831 US 59 South in Cleveland. He is charged with three counts of Indecency With a Child.
According to Cleveland Police Capt. Scott Felts, Perez had left the business upon the officers’ arrival, so Officer Maria Rodriguez began conducting an investigation into the allegations.
“One of the victims informed Officer Rodriguez that a man approached her from behind and grabbed her. The male advised her not to move and let him play with her,” Felts said. “When the victim turned around, she observed the male was exposing himself in the presence of her and her two small children. The victim pushed the male away and rushed with her children to seek help.”
In further interviews with witnesses, police discovered that Perez reportedly approached another female juvenile who was standing next to her mother. He is accused of reaching under the juvenile’s dress in an attempt to touch her.
“The mother struck the male in the face with her fist and he fled toward the front of the store. The mother chased the male out of the store where she was able to take a picture of the vehicle the male was fleeing in,” Felts said.
Prior to meeting with the victims, a witness notified a Liberty County Sheriff’s Department Patrol Unit who was able to stop the vehicle Perez was driving as he fled the parking lot. Liberty County sheriff’s deputies detained Perez until Cleveland police officers arrived to question him.
Perez was transported to the Cleveland Police Department where he was charged with two counts of Indecency with a Child, second-degree felonies. Municipal Court Judge Bob Steely set bond for Perez totaling $30,000.
“A follow-up investigation was conducted by CPD Detective John Shaver. It was found through interview of a juvenile victim at Bridgehaven Children’s Advocacy Center, another occurrence occurred. Mr. Perez was charged with a third count of Indecency with a Child,” Felts said.
Pct. 6 Justice of the Peace Ralph Fuller assessed a $50,000 bond for the additional charge.
“Arresting this criminal was a team effort. If it were not for alert victims, witnesses who stepped up to help out and patrol officers and deputies working together, this crook may have gotten away with these depraved crimes,” Felts said.