14-year-old girl standing outside Aurora home reportedly kidnapped, groped by stranger

AURORA, Colo. (KDVR) — Aurora police say a man kidnapped and groped a 14-year-old girl around 7:30 a.m. on Sunday.

Investigators say she was taken by three people while standing outside of her home in the 500 block of Potomac Street. They said the trio forced the young girl into another unit in the same complex.

She was able to get away and reunite with her family, who reported the situation to the police. The incident now has neighbors in the area on high alert.

“We saw a bunch of cops in each corner of the building, just thought they were patrolling or something,” said neighbor Reyne Rincon. “It’s really scary honestly. Knowing that it’s here where it’s a lot of kids. Like I see a bunch of kids.”

Officers said they detained two of the three people Sunday and arrested Jhon Balestrini-Ferrer at a nearby Shell gas station. According to the arrest affidavit issued by the Aurora Police Department for Balestrini-Ferrer, the teen was propositioned to have sex for $500.

“It really puts me on alert,” Rincon said. “I’ll be looking out for the kids out here honestly now.”

Balestrini-Ferrer is charged with enticement of a child, second-degree kidnapping and sexual assault on a child, which police clarified is for groping.

“Seeing the kids playing outside gave me that piece of mind, like maybe it isn’t so bad, but just knowing they are getting targeted now, it’s very sad,”said Rincon.

The affidavit also said the girl’s left wrist was injured when Balestrini-Ferrer allegedly pulled her into his apartment unit. It’s unclear how long she may have been inside. However, according to the arrest affidavit, after being overpowered by him once, she was able to push him away and leave the unit.

The police document goes on to say at some point while she was trying to make it home, the man reached under her skirt and grabbed her buttocks.

“Be very careful a lot of things do happen here it’s not the first time we’ve seen cops here, just seeing that things are kind of escalating more,” said Rincon. “It’s very concerning.”

Balestrini-Ferrer is currently being held in the Arapahoe County Jail on a $50,000 cash or surety bond.

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