Police Arrest Suspect in Sexual Abuse of Minor at Unique Bazaar

Montgomery County Police have arrested a 45-year man in the sexual assault of a seven-year-old girl. The incident took place earlier this month at the Unique Bazaar thrift store on Veirs Mill Road, as reported by Patch.

Police in the Family Crimes Division–Pedophile Section identify the suspect as Mario Amaro, of the 12500 block of Plaza Place in the Aspen Hill area of Rockville. Amaro has been charged with two counts each of third and fourth-degree sex offense, and is being held on $75,000 bond.

The suspect was identified through tips from the public, following police release to the media of a photo taken from store's surveillance system.

Officers had responded to a report of a sexual assault at Unique Bazaar, located at 12211 Viers Mill Road, on the evening of August 1 at about 7:12 p.m.

According to police reports, the girl was at the store shopping with her family, but they became separated. A male suspect approached the girl while she was alone and began touching her in the genital area, outside of her clothing. The girl then ran to another section of the store and the suspect followed, again touching her clothing in the genital area. She again fled and hid in a rack of clothing to evade the suspect. The girl was then able to locate her mother and notified her of the incident.

Following the assault, police report that the suspect had gone into the bathroom and exited wearing a different shirt, in an attempt to avoid detection.

Montgomery County Police-Family Crimes Division asks anyone with knowledge of additional incidents of inappropriate contact by Amaro to please call the unit, at 240-773-5400.