Earlier this morning, the Special Victims Unit of the Spartanburg County Sheriff’s Office made an arrest in the fondling incidents that occurred last Sunday in several local stores.
The suspect is Romel Alexander Alfaro, W/M, DOB: 072794, 210 Arial Circle, Spartanburg, SC, 29301. Yesterday morning, a third victim came forward who had an incident with suspect at Wal-Mart on Dorman Centre Dr. that also occurred Sunday night, August 17, 2014, around the same time frame as the incidents at Target and Ingles. From viewing the Wal-Mart video, after this incident with a third white female, suspect was also seen assaulting a fourth B/F victim, but she hasn’t come forward at this time.
SVU investigators received a tip from a citizen who was involved in a road rage incident with suspect on Friday, August 15, 2014, on Reidville Rd. That citizen called Highway Patrol, who cited suspect for Reckless Driving and Minor in Possession of an Alcohol, which is how we got his vital information.
Two of the victims picked him out of a photo line-up yesterday, and an SVU investigator discussed the incidents with a magistrate, who issued 2 warrants on Alfaro for Assault and Battery – First Degree. A third warrant for the same charge will be signed later today, since one of the victim lives out of county. Investigators looked for suspect last night without success, but they located him at home this morning. Suspect confessed to all three incidents, and we recovered the clothes seen in the videos.
