Lehigh County substitute teacher indecently assaulted child at mall, officials say – NBC10 Philadelphia

A substitute teacher who worked at several schools in Lehigh County was arrested after allegedly assaulting a teenager at a store in The Shoppes at Trexlertown in Trexlertown.

In a statement released Tuesday, Lehigh County District Attorney Gavin Holihan announced that Jared Matthew Gerhard, 30, of Macungie, was arrested and charged with unauthorized contact with a minor and indecent assault. The incident occurred May 24 at a Marshall’s store in the 6900 block of Hamilton Boulevard, according to authorities.

According to Holihan’s office, officers said they responded to a 911 call around 5:30 p.m. on May 24 after a 17-year-old victim told police she was shopping at the house with her family when Gerhard reached between her legs from behind and touched her between the legs.

The victim told police that she screamed and Gerhard, according to officers, immediately fled the store, even though another customer tried to hold him back.

When police arrived, they found Gerhard “driving his car at a high rate of speed through the parking lot and onto Mill Creek Road.”

State police officers then stopped the vehicle. According to officers, Gerhard was found inside the vehicle with items of clothing and a toy from the store that he allegedly had with him when he fled the store.

Holihan’s office said Gerhard worked as a substitute teacher at several schools in Lehigh County, but officials did not identify which schools.

The District Attorney’s Office is asking anyone with information about this crime or similar incidents involving Gerhard to call the Pennsylvania State Police in Fogelsville at 610-395-1438.