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Police arrest man for impersonating officer, making improper
advances KATHY CHANG Staff Writer
WOODBRIDGE -- Police announced June 13 that they arrested and charged a
57-year-old township man for allegedly impersonating a Perth Amboy police
officer so he could make improper advances toward a 14-year-old female that
lived in his neighborhood.
Police arrested Pedro A. Jirau of 121 S. Fulton St. at 2:23 p.m. on June 9,
for the incident that happened last week, police said.
Jirau was charged with endangering the welfare of a child, criminal sexual
contact, luring, and impersonating a police officer after displaying a toy badge
to township police officers responding to the neighborhood complaint, police
said.
Police Officers Carlos Villegas and Michael Mason responded to Jirau's
residence to investigate a complaint that Jirau had allegedly made improper
advances to a 14-year-old female resident, police said.
Villegas observed Jirau outside his South Fulton Street residence and
requested identification, police said.
It is alleged that Jirau displayed a silver badge and announced that he was a
Perth Amboy police officer, police said.
Police determined that Jirau was not a police officer and that the badge was
a plastic toy inscribed with the words "Police Play," police said.
The criminal complaint against Jirau alleges that he approached the
14-year-old and offered her $200 to watch TV in his home, police said.
The complaint also alleges that during the June 9 encounter and on previous
occasions, Jirau fondled his private area in the presence of the 14-year-old
female, police said.
On the same day of the June 9 incident, the female advised her parents of the
encounter and the township police were notified, police said.
State Superior Court Judge Joseph L. Rea in Middlesex County set Jirau's bail
at $150,000. He remains incarcerated at the Middlesex County Adult Correction
Center in North Brunswick.
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