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A drunken man, who claimed he had a gun, harassed and assaulted a teen last week.
Thomas Guerriero, 31, of the 2200 block of South Garnet Street, is believed to have approached an 18-year-old woman as she was walking eastbound on the 1800 block of West Passyunk Avenue around 6:30 p.m. May 12, Detective Danielle Tolliver of South Detective Division said. Guerriero allegedly walked up to her and tried to start a conversation, but the teen felt awkward, so she said “hello” and kept walking.
The woman smelled alcohol on his breath when he allegedly grabbed her by the shoulders, pulled her close to him and asked questions such as “what’s your phone number?,” and “where do you live?” He also allegedly told her, “I’m gonna be truthful. I have a gun” as he showed her something in his waistband although it is unclear if it was actually a gun, Tolliver said.
He is believed to have kissed her cheek and pushed her head toward his crotch, Tolliver said. Before leaving, he demanded she call his cell phone. She reluctantly called him and then waited by the Sunoco Mini Market, 2101 S. 17th St. to give him time to leave the area before she went home and called police.
Police observed Guerriero on the 2200 block of South Garnet Street around 6:39 p.m. Guerriero allegedly ran into his home on the same block, but police nabbed him inside the home. Police recovered narcotics from Guerriero and after obtaining a search warrant, located narcotics and weight scales from his home around 11:30 p.m., Tolliver said. Police did not recover a gun.
Guerriero was charged with harassment, indecent assault and false imprisonment along with firearm violations, possession charges and related offenses.
Contact Staff Writer Amanda Snyder at asnyder@southphillyreview.com or ext. 117.
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