MAN DRESSED AS ELMO ACCUSED OF GROPING TEEN GIRL IN TIME SQUARE: POLICE
September 9, 2019
Mark Sundstrom, Katie Corrado
Pix 11
MIDTOWN — One of Times Square's costumed characters is facing multiple charges after being accused of touching a teenage girl inappropriately after snapping a photo with her, police said.
According to authorities, the 14-year-old girl had just posed for a photo with the man, who was dressed as Elmo from "Sesame Street," before he allegedly grabbed her buttocks around 6:30 p.m. on Saturday.
Inocente Andrade-Pacheco, of Passaic, New Jersey, was arrested and is now facing charges including forcible touching and acting in a manner injurious to a child, according to authorities.
The incident is part of a long history of characters harassing and fighting tourists, mostly stemming from arguments over tips.
There were several notable violent incidents in 2014, including Spider-Man punching a police officer in the face.
The same year, Woody from Toy Story was nabbed for reportedly groping several young girls, and Cookie Monster was cuffed for allegedly attacking a toddler.
In response to the violence, the city created "designated activity zones" in Times Square to section-off where characters can be and minimize peddling.
PIX11 reached out to the Times Square Alliance for comment on Saturday's incident and is waiting to hear back.
Man dressed as Elmo accused of groping teen girl in Times Square: police
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