Video shows suspect wanted in multiple assaults in Philadelphia's Fishtown neighborhood
A 29-year-old man is wanted on indecent assault charges in Fishtown, including inappropriately touching a child last week, Philadelphia police said.
Noel Vargas, 29, is wanted by the Special Victims Unit on two counts of indecent assault, simple assault and harassment charges for two separate incidents, police said on Wednesday. Police said Vargas has a dark beard and is 5 feet, 6 inches tall. Nearby surveillance cameras captured one of the incidents.
The first incident happened on March 25 at around 9:30 p.m. on the 1500 block of Palmer Street. Police said a 36-year-old woman was placing her son in the back seat of her car when a man, allegedly Vargas, pinched her buttocks before fleeing northbound on Memphis Street. In this incident, police said Vargas was wearing a black hoodie with a design on the back and blue jeans.
Three days later, on March 28, police said another incident allegedly involving Vargas happened on the 1500 block of East Montgomery Avenue, which is right around the corner from the 1500 block of Palmer Street.
A 13-year-old girl said Vargas approached her and grabbed her from behind in a "bear hug" at around 8 a.m., police said. She then screamed, and Vargas fled the scene, police said. Vargas was wearing a black and white hoodie with black jogging pants during this incident, according to police.
The girl's parent was alerted right away by the school, AMY at James Martin, which also contacted police and issued a letter to the families of students.
"We understand that this incident is alarming and may cause some anxiety for those within our school community," the letter from the school said.
CBS News Philadelphia also spoke to a woman who wanted to remain anonymous and said she, too, was a victim of assault by Vargas.
The woman said the 29-year-old approached her as she was walking and on a work call. She said that after the incident, she tried to chase him.
"After he groped me, I started to yell, and he acted like he couldn't hear me yelling and didn't know I was there, so that prompted me to go after him," she said.
The woman said she posted the incident on a local Facebook page. She said she was able to connect with people who had video and were assaulted as well. She said she's doing OK.
"I haven't moved in yet," she said. "I am hoping that I will find some closure after talking to the Special Victims Unit."
People in the neighborhood said they're being extra vigilant.
"I hope that he is found," the anonymous woman said. "I hope that he does his time in jail or prison, wherever it is."