NEWS RELEASE
For Immediate Release: May 11, 2004

HPD YOUTH & FAMILY SERVICES MAKE THIRD OUT OF STATE FUGITIVE ARREST IN LESS THAN A WEEK.

(Hartford) - The Hartford Police Department announced today that its Youth and Family Services Division had made a third out of state fugitive arrest in less than a week. Authorities in Puerto Rico arrested Lorenzo Morales, age 57 of Hartford, charging him as a Fugitive From Justice based on an arrest warrant submitted by HPD Youth and Family Services Detective Jorge DeJesus. This arrest stems from a June 2002 case in which Morales is accused of sexually assaulting two (2) juvenile female relatives from the time they were ages six (6) through age thirteen (13).  

Lorenzo Morales waived the extradition process and was brought back to Hartford, Connecticut on Monday, May 10, 2004, by Hartford Police Department Youth and Family Services Division Detectives Jorge DeJesus and Dixon Vega.  He was subsequently formally charged with five (5) counts of Sexual Assault in the First Degree, one (1) count of Sexual Assault in the Fourth Degree and seven (7) counts of Risk of Injury to a Minor. He was held overnight on a judge set $400,000.00 bond awaiting arraignment in Hartford Superior Court. 

While in Puerto Rico, Detectives Vega and DeJesus conducted a follow-up investigation into an unrelated juvenile sexual assault case. During this time, they were able to positively identify the suspect, confirm his current location and obtain enough information to proceed with an arrest warrant for the suspect.  Upon this warrant being issued, his extradition will be sought as well. 

HPD Youth Services Commander, Lieutenant Daryl K. Roberts, in commenting on the apprehension of three fugitives in one week by the Youth and Family Services Division, stated, "These arrests show the community that we are serious about providing the best service we can to those most vulnerable in our society who do not have a voice, our children the true victims."  

Contact:   Nancy Mulroy, Public Information Officer, Hartford Police Department,  (860) 543-8746
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