Worcester man charged with kidnapping, assault doesn’t match description

Prosecutors say a man arrested for allegedly accosting three teen girls in Worcester had a backpack that contained rope, duct tape, a knife, pliers, a drill, cell phones, and water bottles.

Fredy Cruz, 22 of Worcester, appeared in court Thursday following allegations that he tried to kidnap three girls in Worcester on Wednesday. He was held on $500,000 bail.

Lawyers for Cruz are saying police have the wrong man, claiming he does not match the suspect the teenagers described.

Cruz is Hispanic, while investigators say the girls described the suspect as being white, with a white mustache and in his 50’s.

According to Worcester Police, on Thursday officers saw a man who was wearing the same clothing as the suspect was described to have been wearing during the alleged incident. 

When the man saw the officers, he turned around. Officers then stopped and questioned him. 

Cruz agreed to go to the police headquarters to be interviewed. Cruz acknowledged that he was involved in the incidents. 

In court, the 22-year-old suspect was kept behind a courtroom door. 

A student at South High School said the man grabbed her from behind as she walked on Apricot Street Wednesday morning. The teenager said she fought the man off and he ran from the area.

In a second incident, a 14-year-old student from Sullivan Middle School said a man approached her on Apricot Street Wednesday morning. The girl said the man told her, "you’re coming with me." She said the man grabbed her arms, and that she punched him several times before he ran away. At the end of the school day, another South High School student and told police that she had been approached by the same man.

None of the girls were injured in the incidents, which took place between 7:15 a.m. and 8:15 a.m.

Police believe the same man was behind all three attacks.

Cruz was charged with three counts of kidnapping, three counts of assault and battery and enticing a child under 16. 

Worcester Public Schools issued an alert to parents about the incidents. Police said they have also increased their presence in that area and will have patrols there as students arrive at school on Thursday.

Some parents voiced concern that the alert came several hours after the attack.

"I’m really scared, so I have to leave from work and start picking up my kid cause I don’t know what’s gonna happen," said parent Corie McLean.

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