A Sanford man has been arrested, accused of impersonating a law enforcement officer and groping a teen-aged girl on Sunday night.
Sanford police have charged 39-year-old Roberto Acevedo of Sanford, with several counts, including fraud and impersonation of a law enforcement officer in commission of a felony, cruelty toward child abuse without great harm, kidnapping, false imprisonment and battery.
Investigators said, as a 17-year-old female and her friend, Ehrich Cochran, 18, were getting ready to skate board near the Ambassador Church at 2921 Orlando Avenue on Sunday night, just before 9:30 pm, they were approached by a man wearing a white “police style” shirt with a badge attached to it. The man, who also had handcuffs attached to his belt, identified himself as “law enforcement” to the teens.
The man, later identified as suspect Acevedo, began to frisk the teens and ended up taking the female to the side of the building where he began to assault and grope her. She started screaming and Cochran came to her assistance.
Acevedo then left the area on his bicycle.
Officers were able to apprehend Acevedo shortly after, based on positive identification by the teens. Acevedo has been known to have done the same type of act in the past, police said.
Acevedo was arrested and taken to the Seminole County Jail where he remains on a $2,250 bond.
