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By: Taylor Edmunds, Forensic Interviewer
The CAC would like to highlight Detectives Leonardo Garcia and Michael Fitzgerald for their diligent investigation efforts. In June, a man approached multiple groups of young girls on separate occasions, posing as a police officer and fondling them over clothing. To find this offender and arrest him, Park Ridge Police Department placed two female officers posing as teenage girls in the area. The offender ultimately approached the undercover officers while wearing a surgical mask and fake police badge. The Park Ridge Police Department was able to identify the offender and make an arrest. Detective Garcia and Detective Fitzgerald then referred the case to the Children’s Advocacy Center requesting 2 emergency forensic interviews and 2 scheduled forensic interviews for a total of 4 victims. CAC Advocate Gracie Ording and CAC Forensic Interviewer Taylor Edmunds were among the MDT that conducted the interviews and provided follow-up care to the victims and caregivers.
During the interview appointments, both Detective Garcia and Detective Fitzgerald explained the criminal justice process to the caregivers and provided transparency as to how involved the victims and caregivers needed to be throughout the case. During one appointment, a victim’s caregiver was apprehensive to participate in the interview, as his child had been traumatized and he had concerns for his child’s mental health if they were to relive that trauma. Both Detective Garcia and Detective Fitzgerald explained that it is voluntary to complete a forensic interview and the team was considering the best interest of their child. As CAC staff know, many caregivers are apprehensive to participate in the interview process, and it is kindness and transparency exemplified by the detectives in a case like this that makes CAC so grateful for trauma-informed MDT.
Ultimately the case was accepted for charges and approved for a total of 11 felony charges: 4 charges of Aggravated Battery, 4 charges of Unlawful Restraint, and 3 charges of False Impersonation of a Police Officer.
Thank you to Detective Garcia and Detective Fitzgerald and their team for protecting the city of Park Ridge, providing trauma-informed care for the multiple victims in this case, and referring these victims to the CAC so that the interviews could be conducted in a child-friendly matter.
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