AVON LAKE, Ohio -- Friday afternoon, an Avon Lake police officer was flagged down while on routine patrol by teens walking along the sidewalks of Avon Belden Road.
The teens told the officer that they had witnessed an older man running towards one of their friends, and were concerned for her safety.
The victim, a girl, 16, stated that, for the last year, the older man began hanging outside of his house and would try to engage her and other friends in conversation as they walked home from school.
As the situation became increasingly awkward, the victim and her friends began to avoid his residence completely.
On Friday just after 3 p.m., police say the 57-year-old suspect, Joseph Simko, began yelling for the victim to stop as she was quickly walking away from him.
She said that Simko caught up with her and grabbed her by her backpack and spun her around to face him. After a brief conversation, the girl took off running.
Simko was subsequently charged with felony stalking and is currently being held in the Lorain County Jail in lieu of a $50,000 cash/surety bond.
Simko is scheduled to appear at 11 a.m. Sept. 22 in Avon Lake Municipal Court.
