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.