Brownsville police arrest fondling suspect

A Brownsville man arrested on suspicion of fondling at least one young girl at the Walmart store on Alton Gloor Boulevard told a judge Saturday morning he had meant no harm.

Jacob Valentine Vasquez, 21, turned himself in to Brownsville police Friday night after news reports surfaced that he was wanted on one count of injury to a child. Investigators said a man had reached into a young girl’s underwear earlier this month at the discount store.

Vasquez was arrested and at his arraignment Saturday stated that he had abused Xanax. Xanax is a prescription drug normally used to treat anxiety and panic disorder.

“I did not mean to hurt anybody,” he told Municipal Judge Ben Neece, who responded by shaking his head.

“Well, I don’t know what to tell you about that. You can go out that way,” the judge said, motioning toward a door. With handcuffs on his arms and shackles on his legs, Vasquez shuffled out.

The judge set bail at $75,000. The incident is said to have taken place Aug. 19 and is one of three similar reports police have received involving girls aged 8 to 10 or so.

In the Aug. 19 case, investigators said the girl broke free from the man who was touching her and alerted her parents, who were around the corner of the aisle. Walmart security cameras showed a suspect, and authorities later received a tip that helped identify him.

One of the victims was taken to the police department to view a photo lineup of possible suspects. The girl identified Vasquez as the man who touched her, police spokesman Eddie Garcia said.

Vasquez will also be questioned regarding the two other incidents at the same Walmart, Garcia said. A police report on July 28 stated that an unidentified male entered the store, found an unattended girl and touched her from behind over her clothes.

Parents of another little girl came forward more recently when they heard police were looking for a man who had inappropriately touched girls at that store. They told police their daughter had also been touched.

Authorities are asking that anyone with information to report contact police at (956) 548-7000 or call Crime Stoppers at (956) 546-TIPS.