By Staff Report
HIGHTSTOWN — A cell phone and the quick thinking of a good Samaritan helped police catch a sexual predator this past Saturday.
At approximately 5 p.m. Aug. 25, officers responded to the area of Peddie Lake after receiving a complaint from the good Samaritan regarding a sexual act being performed upon a juvenile, according to the Hightstown Police Department.
The good Samaritan reported an act of fellatio being performed upon a juvenile boy by an adult, which was captured on the good Samaritan’s cell phone as proof for police, a Police Department press release on the incident stated.
As a result of the investigation and the actions of the good Samaritan, officers arrested Hightstown resident Thomas Massaro, 43, of Meadow Drive, and charged him with sexual assault upon a minor, a 15-year-old male, endangering the welfare of a minor and prostitution involving a minor, police said.
Additional information on the status of the minor was unavailable from the Police Department as of the Herald’s deadline on Thursday.
Hightstown Police Director James Le Tellier could not be reached yesterday for comment.
Mr. Massaro was taken to Mercer County Adult Correction Center where he was being held on $50,000 bail as of press time.