$exual escapades of ‘Retired Philadelphia Cop Patrick Heron, 52, Accused Of Unlawful $exual Crimes Against Children, Investigators Say’ An ex-police officer in Philadelphia is alleged to have $exually abused multiple children, and investigators say there could be more victims who have yet to come forward, WPVI-TV reports.
Retired Philadelphia Cop Patrick Heron, 52, Accused Of Unlawful $exual Crimes Against Children, Investigators Say
Authorities on Wednesday arrested 52-year-old Patrick Heron, a retired Philadelphia police officer, on charges that include $exual abuse of children, unlawful contact with a minor, harassment, retaliation, and unlawful use of a computer.
“This is every parent’s nightmare. This is every teacher’s nightmare,” Philadelphia District Attorney Larry Krasner told reporters at a press conference on Friday, according to the Philadelphia Inquirer. “You got a guy who’s born in 1969 who is going after little kids. Young teens. This is awful conduct at every level. And even more awful when you’re in a position of public trust or were or are pretending you still are.”
According to WPVI-TV, which cites court documents, several youngsters are reported to have come forward to a middle school teacher about the alleged abuse, which included $ex acts and photos.
Authorities think Heron forced the victims—all thought to be teenage girls—to meet him by sending them electronic messages. Heron would then instruct the young women to record themselves in $exually suggestive images and videos while claiming to be a retired police officer.
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Heron also allegedly spoke with the children in a manner that was of a $exual nature and at least one victim has said that he $exually assaulted her as a child. Heron allegedly had images of the abuse.
Krasner said he is concerned there may be additional victims.
“We have reason to believe that there are, or maybe, additional victims and additional witnesses who suffered criminal conduct,” Krasner said, according to WPVI-TV.
Heron would occasionally address kids as “love” and “sweetie,” while other messages were combative and made attempts to set up after-school meetings with the kids.
Investigators learned from one of the victims that Heron had paid her for a picture of her face via an app. According to the Inquirer, a different youngster who was 8 years old said Heron touched her improperly.
As part of his efforts to conceal the crimes, Heron allegedly created falsified court documents to keep the witnesses and victims from talking.
“The alleged crimes for which this individual is charged are honestly some of the worst I’ve ever seen against an ex-law enforcement official,” Krasner told reporters, according to FOX 29.
“The conduct alleged includes unlawful $exual contact with minors – some of them quite young – electronic messages that appear to be efforts at grooming young girls or coercion of young girls to meet with this defendant in person, to send him intimate photographs. They include misrepresentations by Heron of himself as a current police officer when he was in fact retired.”
One of the alleged victims shared their story after seeing a social media post earlier this year that accused Heron of wrongdoing. The victim’s father was reportedly friends with Heron before the abuse occurred and had him over at their house.
“He’s a predator and we got o keep him off the streets forever,” the father told WPVI-TV.
Now, the victim’s family is working to help her through what happened.
“I’m so proud of her,” the father told WPVI-TV. “She’s having a lot of difficulties right now and we will get through that.”
Authorities are holding Heron on a $2 million bond.
To report information about Heron, call the Philadelphia District Attorney’s Special Investigations Unit at 215-686-9608.
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