With public's help, police arrest Glendale High School groping suspect

With public’s help, police arrest Glendale High School groping suspect

July 20, 2016 5:34 PM PT

Police on Wednesday nabbed a 28-year-old Glendale man suspected of grabbing the buttocks of two Glendale High School students last week before fleeing in a car, police said.

Jose Paolo Baroma was booked on suspicion of sexual battery hours after investigators released surveillance photographs seeking the public’s help identifying him, said Glendale Police Sgt. Robert William.

Two separate callers reportedly pointed Glendale detectives to the same man.

Campus security footage shows Baroma “sneaking up” behind the girls, grabbing their buttocks and running into an white four-door BMW, William said.

While police initially thought he had a getaway driver, after interviewing Baroma, they believe he acted alone, getting into his car through the passenger’s side and climbing into the driver’s seat before fleeing, William said.

The incidents occurred on July 12 and last Friday, both before 8 a.m.

Anyone with information about the case can call Glendale police at (818) 548-4911.

Alene Tchekmedyian, alene.tchekmedyian@latimes.com

Twitter: @atchek

Alene Tchekmedyian

Alene Tchekmedyian is an investigative reporter at the Los Angeles Times. She previously covered the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department, focusing on accountability stories and writing about failures by officials to comply with transparency laws. Before joining The Times in 2016, she reported on crime and policing for the Glendale News-Press and Burbank Leader.