By Jennifer Glickel and Leslie Albrecht
DNAinfo Reporter/Producers
HARLEM — A 28-year-old woman and 14-year-old girl were groped by a man while swimming on Monday at a pool inside Jackie Robinson Park, police said.
The woman first complained to officials at the pool that a man had touched her buttocks while swimming in the pool about 1:45 p.m., police said. Minutes later, a 14-year-old girl said she too had been molested by the same man, police said.
Leonel Zabala, 24, of the Bronx, will be charged with sexual abuse, forcible touching, and endangering the welfare of a child, police said.
Families waiting in line to enter the pool Monday afternoon said they were disturbed by the news.
"I’ve lived across the street for seven years and have never come here because public pools make me nervous for exactly this reason," said 45 year-old Sharon, of Harlem, who didn't want her last name used.
"I'm definitely going to keep a very close watch on my girls knowing this."
Sharon was visiting the pool with her daughters, 10-year-old Angel and 11 year-old Alexis.
"It seems like they have a lot of security here, but it makes me more cautious of course knowing about this," said 52-year-old James Herring, who was with his 8 year-old daughter Viondra. "Things like this unfortunately happen."
