Pennsylvania teacher accused of groping teen in Marshall store

A southeastern Pennsylvania substitute teacher was arrested for allegedly groping a 17-year-old girl over the weekend, authorities said Tuesday.

Jared Matthew Gerhard, 29, of Macungie, is accused of reaching between the girl's legs and touching her from behind while the victim was shopping with her family at a Marshall store at the mall Trexler in Lower Macungie Township.

The alleged incident occurred later Friday afternoon, Lehigh County Prosecutor Gavin Holihan said, according to NBC Philadelphia.

The teen told police that Gerhard first approached her at the store and exposed his abdomen to her.

Minutes later, the teen felt someone touching her over her shorts, Lehigh Valley News reported, citing court documents.

She turned around and saw Gerhard standing between two racks of clothes. When she screamed, the suspect fled.

Authorities received a 911 call around 5:30 p.m. When state troopers arrived on scene, they found a man “driving his car at a high rate of speed through the parking lot and onto Mill Creek Road.”

After the man was arrested, authorities identified him as Gerhard. Clothing and a toy from the store were also found in the car, police said.

Gerhard was arrested and charged with indecent assault and unlawful contact with a minor. He has since been released after posting $35,000 bail, according to the Morning Call.