Hartford police said technology helped them find a man suspected of approaching a 10-year-old girl who was on her way to school Monday, asking her to get into his van and exposing himself to her when she refused.
Hartford police said they responded to Stonington Street at 7:39 a.m. Monday after receiving a public indecency complaint and learned that a man in a white van pulled up near the victim as she was walking to the bus stop, asked her if she wanted a ride and told her to get in the van.
The girl refused to get in and the man exposed his genitals to her, according to police.
Police said analysts used technology that allowed them to process hours of video within minutes and found video showing a white 2003 Econoline van leaving the scene.
Police were also able to obtain the license plate number and pulled him over a short time later.
"We were able to view two hours of video, prior to, in about three minutes," Sgt. Johnmichael O'Hare, of the Hartford Police Department, said. "With 100 percent conviction, there is no way we could've found half of the things we found, if not more."
Police identified the suspect as 34-year-old Jose Jalpa-Yanes, of Hartford, and said they obtained a warrant charging him with public indecency, risk of injury and operating a motor vehicle on a suspended license.
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Police said they also found Japa-Yanes' van carrying out a similar pattern to this one on Sept. 5.
"Lo and behold, on September 5th, we case the same type of pattern. His van was looping that block three times at the same timeframe," O'Hare said.
Japa-Yanes was taken into custody at his home and he denied exposing himself to the child, according to officials in court.
Bond was lowered from $750,000 to $500,000.
Japa-Yanes' has been ordered to have no contact with any minors other than his children.
His family and attorney have not commented on the allegations.
He is due back in court on Oct. 13.
