October 28, 2017 - Newark and
University of Delaware Police have arrested a 57-year-old Morristown, New
Jersey, man in connection with several incidents which occurred throughout the
city.
On September 15th at
approximately 10:30 p.m. the Newark Police responded to the unit block of South
Chapel Street where a 20-year-old female UD student reported that an unknown
subject moved a chair from the front porch to the side of the house, then
knocked on a side door, where a lewd and harassing note was found on the chair.
On September 16th at
approximately 1:00 a.m. the Newark Police responded to the 100 block of East
Main Street, where a 21-year-old female UD student reported that an unknown
white male suspect was observed standing naked near her vehicle while
masturbating. The suspect fled on foot.
On September 16th at
approximately 1:28 a.m. the Newark Police responded to the 200 block of East
Main Street, where two 19-year-old female UD students reported that they were
walking through a parking lot when a naked white male emerged from behind a set
of dumpsters. The male was holding his clothes and spoke to the victim’s before
jogging away.
University of Delaware Police
investigated an indecent exposure incident that occurred Oct. 15th
near the Roselle Center for the Arts on the University’s Newark campus.
The Newark Police Evidence
Detection Unit was able to recover fingerprints from the letter left at the
scene of the South Chapel Street incident, which came back to Gerald Picerno.
Using an image from the University’s system of surveillance cameras, Newark and
UD investigators further identified Gerald Picerno, and he surrendered at
Newark Police headquarters on Oct. 27. He has no affiliation with the
University.
Picerno was charged with three
counts of lewdness, five counts of indecent exposure, two counts of third
degree trespass and one count of harassment. Picerno was arraigned through
Justice of the Peace Court 2, where he received $5,500 unsecured bond. He was
ordered to have no contact with the University, the city of Newark or the
victims.
Anyone with additional
information is asked to contact UD Police at 302-831-2224 or Newark Police at
302-366-7100 ext. 3406.
You
can send an anonymous text message tip by texting 302NPD and your message to
TIP411. Information can also be provided anonymously to Crime Stoppers at
1‐800‐TIP‐3333 or via the internet at www.tipsubmit.com where a reward may be
available.
The
Newark Police Department affirms that all defendants are presumed innocent
until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt