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OREM — Police have arrested a man for allegedly groping two women and burglarizing two apartments.
Orem Police Lt. Craig Martinez said officers initially responded Saturday to a report of a man approaching and sexually assaulting a woman at the Village on the Parkway Apartments, 1181 W. 1230 South.
“(He) started talking to her, getting really close to her, kind of making her feel uncomfortable, and he actually groped her,” Martinez said.
Two men were eventually able to get the alleged attacker away from the woman, Martinez said.
That man, according to police, then asked the other two for money for a bus ride on UTA before leaving the area.
“Our officers went and started searching the UTA bus depot there by University Mall when one of the officers was flagged down by another female at the movie theaters,” Martinez said. “She had kind of the same story and, it appeared, the same suspect.”
Investigators said that woman told them the man had approached her in the theater and sat down next to her, and started to grope her over and beneath her clothing.
Martinez said the man, identified as 35-year-old Anietie Umoren, was arrested without incident.
“And then we found out there were two other cases reported where this man had actually entered two apartments, unbeknownst to the owners and tenants of the apartments,” Martinez said.
Those apartments, Martinez said, were located at Wolverine Crossing, 1111 S. 1350 West, which is across the street from the Village on the Parkway Apartments.
Umoren was booked into the Utah County Jail on suspicion of forcible sexual abuse, sexual battery and burglary.
He was being held on $40,000 cash-only bail.
“Obviously he thinks he can do some things that he can’t do here,” Martinez said. “It’s not OK what he did, but hopefully he’ll answer to those charges in court.”
Martinez said detectives were looking at the possibility of additional victims, and anyone with a similar recent experience was encouraged to contact Orem Police Department.
He offered some advice in hopes others might not get caught in these types of situations.
“Just try not to let people get into your space,” Martinez said. “Pick up a phone, call somebody immediately if you feel uncomfortable, or do what you can to get away from them.”
