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PROVO — Following the arrest of an alleged sexual predator, Provo police are asking the public to be on alert for other possible victims.
Around 5 p.m. Saturday, Provo Police Department responded to reports of sexual battery at the Provo Recreation Center. A 13-year-old girl had told a lifeguard that a man had approached her and touched her inappropriately in the pool.
The girl identified the man who she said touched her as James Harrison, 38. Police contacted him at the pool and following an interview, booked him into the Utah County Jail on two counts of suspected sexual battery.
The second count, said Provo Police Department Lt. Mathew Siufanua, followed another 13-year-old girl's claim that Harrison had touched her inappropriately while in the pool.
Harrison's pass to the recreation center was revoked by the director Saturday evening.
Siufanua urged children not to talk to strangers and create distance as quickly as possible between them and a person who makes them uncomfortable.
"It's very brazen," Siufanua said. "We ask parents to be watchful of their children."
Siufanua asked anyone who may have had contact with Harrison to call 801-852-6210 and report other possible cases.
"Generally, predators move and do this repeatedly, and so there could be other cases that we don't know about," he said. "He was in a pool during the middle of the day with lots of people, and so that's why we believe that there could be other individuals that have been victimized."
Contributing: Emiley Morgan
