A 55-year-old West Haven man told police he was just trying to have fun when he jumped out at some preteen girls passing his apartment building on Tuesday and chased them, police said.
Police took Reinaldo Ortiz into custody on breach of peace and risk of injury to children charges and he remains in custody on a $75,000 bond.
Ortiz's mother said on Wednesday that she is standing by her son and said this all was a misunderstanding.
West Haven Police went to 278 Main Street around 6:30 p.m. on Tuesday after getting a report of an adult male chasing children and found Ortiz hunched over, trying to hide in the back of the building, police said.
The adults who called police and the children identified Ortiz.
They said he was hiding behind a large trash bin, jumped out as the girls, who are all under the age of 13, passed and began chasing them.
Ortiz, who lives in the building, told police he was just trying to have fun with the girls.
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But Ortiz’s mother, Carmen de la Rosa, said Ortiz was just trying to play with the children, not scare or hurt them.
"It’s not true. My son never, never got in any type of trouble like that with kids. He loves the kids," de la Rosa said."I’m sure my son did nothing wrong. I’m very sure about that."
Ortiz was charged with breach of peace in the second degree and three counts of risk of injury to a minor. The judge on Wednesday said Ortiz should have known better.
Police said Ortiz is on probation for unrelated charges.
