Wildwood Police Arrest 16-Year-Old Suspect in Child Endangerment and Criminal Sexual Contact Case

Wildwood Police Arrest 16-Year-Old Suspect in Child Endangerment and Criminal Sexual Contact Case

Two uniformed patrol officers from the Wildwood Police Department were alerted by a concerned citizen on the evening of June 25th, 2023, regarding a suspicious interaction inside the Boardwalk Empire store at 3000 Boardwalk.

The citizen reported observing a male subject engaging in questionable behavior with a female customer. Promptly responding to the report, the officers arrived at the store but were unable to locate the female customer.

Subsequently, the Wildwood Police Department Detective Division initiated a thorough investigation into the incident. Startling revelations emerged, pointing to an appalling incident involving a 16-year-old male and a 13-year-old female. It was discovered that the young girl had been subjected to inappropriate touching by the male suspect inside the store’s storage room.

Following a comprehensive investigation, law enforcement swiftly apprehended the 16-year-old suspect without encountering any further complications. The suspect now faces charges of third-degree Endangering the Welfare of a Child and fourth-degree Criminal Sexual Contact.

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After being charged with these offenses, the defendant was released on a juvenile summons complaint, while retaining the presumption of innocence until proven guilty in a court of law.

The charges were filed subsequent to a finding of probable cause, underscoring the gravity of the allegations and the Wildwood Police Department’s commitment to pursuing justice.

Any individuals with further information pertaining to this incident or any other potentially suspicious activities are encouraged to come forward and contact the Wildwood Police Department Detective Division.

The Eyewitness of the incident made this story public on social media on the 25th after they were extremely disturbed by what they witnessed.

In their post they went into great detail on what they witnessed and how they were able to help this minor.

Thank you to these visitors as they did the right thing to help protect our children.

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The Wildwoods are a great place to enjoy a vacation with your family but just like every other vacation location, there are some bad apples. If you see something, say something.

The Wildwood Police Department holds the safety and well-being of the community in the highest regard, with a particular focus on protecting vulnerable individuals, including minors.

Instances such as these are treated with the utmost seriousness, and the department takes appropriate measures to ensure that those responsible for such offenses are held accountable.

The department extends its sincere gratitude to the vigilant citizen who promptly reported the suspicious interaction. Rapid reporting of such activities plays a vital role in maintaining community safety and assists law enforcement agencies in their endeavors.