Stamford Man Charged With Attempted Sexual Assault: Police

STAMFORD, CT — A 19-year-old Stamford man was arrested Friday and charged with attempted sexual assault stemming from an incident that occurred on July 5 in the area of Cummings Park, according to the Stamford Police Department.

Juver Humberto Galicia-Rivera was charged with fourth-degree criminal attempt at sexual assault, third-degree assault of an elderly person and second-degree breach of peace. He remains in custody on a $150,000 bond, and further charges could be coming pending an investigation into a second incident, police said.

On the night of July 5, police said they received two separate complaints within 15 minutes of each other of a man attempting to fondle women in the area of Cummings Park.

A 67-year-old woman was walking through the park when a man began to stalk her from behind, police said.

"The suspect then came up behind the victim, placing his hand under her dress, at which point he attempted to pull down the victim's underwear," police said in a news release. "In an attempt to get away from the suspect, the victim pulled away, which caused her to fall to the ground resulting in a fractured ankle."

The woman taken by Emergency Medical Services to the hospital for treatment.

The second incident involved a 40-year-old woman who was walking on Soundview Avenue, bordering the opposite side of Cummings Park from where the first incident took place, police said.

The woman said a man approached her from behind and lifted up her skirt, police said, noting that the woman screamed and the man hit her in the face and fled on a bicycle.

The man was wearing an orange colored hooded sweatshirt and riding a mountain bike with distinctive oversized tires, police said.

"Due to the brazen daytime acts, officers of the patrol division began to scour the area in the following days to identify the suspect and prevent another occurrence," police said in a news release.

Officers identidied Galicia-Rivera, and an arrest warrant was applied for and obtained, police said. Further charges are pending for the second incident near Cummings Park.

The SPD is urging residents to come forward if they have experienced similar assaults.

"We are requesting that any other victims contact the major crimes unit at 203-977-4417," police said in a news release. "We would also like commend the diligent and timely efforts of officer [Ryan] Doughan and investigator [Damien] Rosa which have resulted in the successful arrest and removal of the suspect from the streets of Stamford."