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LYONS – The Lyons Police Department confirmed charges against a Chicago man on Wednesday who allegedly grabbed a 17-year-old male's genitals in a shower at a fitness club.
Police were called at 1:57 p.m. Thursday to XSport Fitness, 3940 S. Harlem Ave., to investigate a report of a man who had inappropriately touched a juvenile member of the gym in the locker room showers. According to police, the juvenile reported the man to staff at XSport, who then called police.
Following an investigation, police charged Juan J. Ibarra, 53, of the 6200 block of 59th Street, Chicago, with criminal sexual abuse.
According to police, the 17-year-old juvenile was showering when a man, later identified as Ibarra, opened the shower door and reached in and grabbed the juvenile's genitals. Police said Ibarra then watched the juvenile take a shower by looking over a wall separating the shower stalls.
Ibarra was arrested by Lyons police while he was still at the gym, police said.
“Law enforcement needs to respond effectively to these types of crimes in order to insure the safety of the victims and the community," said Deputy Chief Matt Buckley.
According to police, in a statement to investigators Ibarra said he was employed by Chicago Public Schools.
A spokesman for Chicago Public Schools confirmed that Ibarra was employed by the district as a porter at John H. Kinzie Elementary School. The spokesman said that following his arrest, Ibarra was suspended pending further review.
"Chicago Public Schools takes allegations of unlawful activity by its employees very seriously. [Due] to the ongoing police investigation, we cannot comment further at this time," the district said in a statement.
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