DSP News Release: Wednesday, February 11, 2009- Subject Charged with Making Sexual Advances Toward a 17-Year-Old Girl

Location of Incident:  Happy Harry’s 1710 Faulkland Road, Wilmington, Delaware

Date and Time of Occurrence: February 8, 2009, at approximately 8:00 p.m.

Suspect(s): Jitu Patel, 35, of Terrace Drive in Wilmington

Resume: On Monday morning, a 17-year-old female victim, and her father, responded to Troop 6 to report an Unlawful Sexual Contact complaint from the night before. 

In this case, the victim was working at the Happy Harry’s in the Chestnut Run Shopping Center when she was approached by a subject she recognized as an employee of an adjacent business.  This subject, who was later identified as Jitu Patel, approached the victim and asked where a certain product might be in the store.  The victim provided Patel with the information he was looking for and she then went about her business. 

It has been alleged that Patel then grabbed the buttocks of the victim and professed his love for her.  He also allegedly solicited her to have sex with him.  The victim became upset and walked away from Patel.  She went home and immediately told her parents what had happened. 

The following day, February 9^th, and after Troopers conducted their initial investigation, officers responded to the Chestnut Run Shopping Center where they took Patel into custody without incident.  He was transported back to Troop 6 where he was formally charged with Unlawful Sexual Contact (misdemeanor).  He was released without bail and ordered to have no contact wit the victim.

 

Jitu Patel