FORT WALTON BEACH, Fla. – A 58-year-old Fort Walton Beach man has been arrested and charged with aggravated stalking of a child after he allegedly repeatedly followed a 13-year-old girl, the Fort Walton Beach Police Department (FWBPD) has announced.
According to the FWBPD, last week, a 13-year-old girl told a FWBPD officer that an older Hispanic male had been following her as she walked home. The girl reportedly said the male had been following her for a while.
Police said the girl provided a picture of the man and his vehicle. Additionally, she stated that on one recent occasion, the man got into his vehicle, followed her home, and reportedly gave her a box of chocolates and a handwritten note.
Officers said they identified the man as Jose Alejandro Garcia Crespin, 58, of Fort Walton Beach.
An arrest warrant was obtained, and Garcia Crespin was located and taken into custody. He was charged with aggravated stalking of a child under 16 years of age.
The Fort Walton Beach Police Department offers the following tips in the event you believe you are being stalked:
- Vary your routines, including changing your routes to and from work/school/grocery store/etc.
- Be aware of your surroundings and avoid isolated locations. Keep a record or log of each incident
- Consider obtaining a protective order against the person. This can be obtained at the Okaloosa County Courthouse.
- Call the police if you feel like you are in immediate danger
