Shorewood police arrest man accused of stalking girl

Shorewood police officers have arrested a man who is accused of stalking a 16-year-old girl and her mother outside Mariano’s grocery store.

Shortly after 11 a.m. Monday, officers responded to the parking lot of Mariano’s, 950 Brookforest Ave., for a report of a man “making unwanted and disturbing comments” to the girl and her mother, Shorewood Police Chief Phillip Arnold said.

Officers learned that Jeffery Hergert, 49, made “inappropriate comments” on the 16-year-old girl’s appearance and offered her a potential job even though he’s unemployed, Arnold said.

Hergert has addresses in Chicago and Merrillville, Indiana, according to police and jail records. Hergert claimed that he’s homeless, Arnold said.

“After being told approximately four times by the juvenile’s mother that his advances were unwanted, Hergert left the area in his vehicle,” Arnold said.

Officers found Hergert in his vehicle on Illinois Route 59 and arrested him after he acknowledged his conversations with the girl and her mother, Arnold said.

“Officers learned that Hergert had recent contact with law enforcement in northwest Indiana, where his behavior rose to the level that authorities were contacted but no criminal charges filed,” Arnold said.

Officers also learned that Hergert had arrests in Pennsylvania, Arkansas, Texas, Idaho, Arizona and Nevada for “similar types [of] incidents involving unsolicited and inappropriate contact with minors,” Arnold said.

At 3:13 p.m. Monday, Hergert was taken to the Will County jail.