State police: 19-year-old man arrested for allegedly assaulting 14-year-old at CT park

A 19-year-old man was arrested on assault charges following an incident involving a 14-year-old at a park in Stafford on Saturday, state police said.

Troopers from Troop C in Tolland responded to a report of a disturbance at Olympic Park in Stafford around 4:36 p.m. on Saturday involving a man allegedly assaulting a juvenile, according to the Connecticut State Police.

Responding troopers located a 14-year-old who told state police they were not injured and reported that the man had fled into a wooded area, state police said.

An adult witness at the scene told troopers a man approached them as they were sitting inside of their vehicle in the parking lot. The man reportedly asked for the witness’s name and opened the driver’s door to the vehicle, according to state police.

“The witness further explained they responded by quickly pulling the door shut, as the male’s behavior was alarming and caused them to feel concerned for their safety,” state police said.

The witness told police the man then walked away and approached a basketball court, where the witness told troopers they observed the man swing at a juvenile before running into the woods, according to state police.

The juvenile told troopers they “observed an unidentified male approach a car in the parking area and speak to the vehicle’s driver,” state police said. According to the juvenile, the unidentified man then allegedly came over and asked them if they knew the two individuals whom the man referenced by name. The juvenile said they did. The man then allegedly asked for the juvenile victim’s name and age, before allegedly swearing at them at and attempting to punch them, according to state police.

The juvenile told troopers the man allegedly struck them in the shoulder and followed them as they attempted to walk away, state police police.

“A friend of the juvenile victim then briefly distracted the accused male, at which time the juvenile victim ran toward the parking lot and asked the adult witness to contact police,” according to state police.

Troopers were given a physical description of the man. A K-9 team was deployed in the area but was unsuccessful in locating the man, state police said.

Troopers identified the man as 19-year-old Connor Sheerin of Stafford. “Over the course of several telephone calls, investigating troopers determined that Sheerin was at his residence and met with him at that location,” according to state police.

When asked about the incident at the park, Sheerin reportedly provided few details but told troopers that several weeks prior, “he and the two individuals referenced by name were allegedly involved in a financial transaction, which Sheerin was dissatisfied with,” state police said.

Based on the investigation, Sheerin was arrested and transported to Troop C in Tolland where he was charged with third-degree assault, risk of injury to a child and second-degree breach of peace.

Sheerin was released on a $10,000 cash/surety bond and is scheduled for arraignment at Rockville Superior Court on June 26.