Teen sought after incidents at bookstore

Detectives are searching for an Asian teenager who is accused of exposing himself to two boys at the Barnes & Noble bookstore, Route 9, Freehold Township. The teen was described as being about 16 or 17 years old.

FREEHOLD TOWNSHIP - Police are continuing to search for a male teenager in connection with a report of an act of criminal sexual contact reported to have occurred at the Barnes & Noble bookstore, Route 9, on Sept. 17.

According to Freehold Township police Detective Russell Gelber, the male who is believed to be about 16 or 17 years old is accused of exposing himself to a 10-year-old boy.

Gelber said the incident occurred when the child, who was in the store with his father, went back to the children's section to get something he had left there.

He said the suspect was in the vicinity of the children's section when he came in contact with the boy. The teenager followed the boy, exposed his genitals and wanted the boy to touch him, according to police.

Gelber said the boy ran away from the teenager and told his father what had occurred.

The suspect was described as an Asian male with "spikey" black hair. He was wearing rectangular framed designer glasses. The teenager was described as being about 5 feet 6 inches tall and weighing about 160 pounds.

Gelber said police are also investigating another possible incident that occurred within minutes of the suspect's contact with the 10-year-old boy. The second incident reportedly involved the same suspect and a 9- year-old boy.

Gelber said the case with the 9-year-old boy involved the teenager exposing himself to the child and not asking that child to touch him.

"In both cases the children were smart enough to tell an adult what happened and did not try to keep it to themselves," Gelber said.

The officer advised parents to be mindful of who is around their children.

"Parents must impress upon their children that if they see anything suspicious, they must not be afraid to tell their parents," Gelber said.

Freehold Township is asking any police department that has investigated similar incidents or has any information involving the suspect to contact Detective Russell Gelber at (732) 294-2110, ext. 3103.

- Clare Marie Celano