BROOKLINE — Brookline police arrested a 35-year-old Winchendon man Thursday after he allegedly followed pre-teen girls and showed inappropriate material to boys at a public library.
Jacob Williams faces multiple charges including enticement of a child under age 16 and indecent assault and battery on a child under age 14.
Officers first responded at 1:33 p.m. Thursday to a report of a man following two pre-teen girls on Washington Street.
The girls reported the man crossed the street toward them and attempted to engage them in conversation, causing them to walk faster and cross the street to avoid him.
According to police, the man followed them across the street and yelled for them to come back, prompting the girls to run away and call a parent, who contacted authorities.
Less than an hour later, while officers were investigating the first incident, police received a call from the Brookline Public Library at 361 Washington Street.
Library staff reported a man had allegedly shown several pre-teen boys inappropriate material on a computer and attempted to entice one boy to accompany him to the bathroom.
The suspect allegedly asked to see the boy’s stomach and touched one of the boys on the stomach during the encounter.
Police located Williams near the library and placed him under arrest.
Williams is charged with dissemination of material harmful to minors, disorderly conduct, enticement of a child under age 16, annoying or accosting a person sexually, and indecent assault and battery on a child under age 14.
