Shirley janitor arrested for inappropriate communications with 7-year-old student

Suffolk County police on Friday arrested an elementary school janitor accused of engaging in inappropriate communications with a child.

News 12 Staff

Oct 4, 2019, 9:09 PM

Updated 1,667 days ago

Share:

Suffolk County police on Friday arrested an elementary school janitor accused of engaging in inappropriate communications with a child.
Police say that the 18-year-old janitor works at John S. Hobart Elementary School in Shirley and engaged in a face-to-face conversation with a 7-year-old female student on Oct. 3, in which he inquired about her access to the internet and electronic means of communication.
The victim’s father, Nick Reisiger, says he's enraged after his daughter told him a janitor at her school was saying that he liked her and gave her his phone number.
"One of the janitors found my daughter attractive and has been stalking her throughout the school, put his phone number in her pocket yesterday,” he says.
News 12 has learned that it was later revealed in an investigation that the man allegedly left a total of 18 notes of adoration in the student's desk prior to the in-person conversation.
"This guy was pretty much telling my daughter he's in love with her, and trying to get her to sneak out of the house and trying to get to sneak and meet him,” says Reisiger.
The janitor, who lives in Riverhead, was arrested at the school on Oct. 4 just before 11 a.m.
He is being charged with endangering the welfare of a child and is expected to be arraigned on Oct. 5 at First District Court in Central Islip.
Police are asking anyone who may have had similar contact with him to call the Seventh Precinct Crime Section at 631-852-8726.

News 12 has put in multiple requests for the name of the suspect, but has been denied by the Suffolk County Police Department.

Reisiger says the janitor’s first name is John.

A spokesperson for the school says the staff is furious over the allegations against the janitor. They say he was employed at the school through the Department of Labor Youth Employment Program.

The William Floyd School District sent News 12 a statement saying, "When we learned that this occurred, we immediately removed him from his post and worked collaboratively with the police department to ensure they had all of the information they needed to make an arrest.

Reisiger says his daughter is extremely upset.

He says he wants parents to talk to their children.

"I doubt my daughter was the first,” he says. “I doubt she was the last."


More from News 12
1:57
Authorities: Fire destroys home in Spring Valley

Authorities: Fire destroys home in Spring Valley

1:40
Scattered rain overnight in the Hudson Valley; sunny skies Sunday afternoon

Scattered rain overnight in the Hudson Valley; sunny skies Sunday afternoon

0:43
Musica Y Mole Festival: White Plains High School celebrates Mexican culture

Musica Y Mole Festival: White Plains High School celebrates Mexican culture

1:02
Drug Takeback Day encourages Rockland residents to properly dispose of unused, expired medications

Drug Takeback Day encourages Rockland residents to properly dispose of unused, expired medications

2:02
'Gains For Brains' girls lacrosse tournament raises awareness, funds for pediatric brain cancer research

'Gains For Brains' girls lacrosse tournament raises awareness, funds for pediatric brain cancer research

0:31
Police seek public’s help locating missing 89-year-old man

Police seek public’s help locating missing 89-year-old man

Mathew Barzal scores in 2nd OT as Islanders beat Hurricanes 3-2 to avoid series sweep

Mathew Barzal scores in 2nd OT as Islanders beat Hurricanes 3-2 to avoid series sweep

0:33
Delta plane lands at JFK due to emergency slide falling off

Delta plane lands at JFK due to emergency slide falling off

2:28
Doctors are seeing an increase in pickleball-related injuries. Here how to avoid them

Doctors are seeing an increase in pickleball-related injuries. Here how to avoid them

1:23
Westchester commuters, residents weigh in on official congestion pricing rollout date

Westchester commuters, residents weigh in on official congestion pricing rollout date

0:20
City of White Plains to impose new speed limit of 25 mph, effective in May

City of White Plains to impose new speed limit of 25 mph, effective in May

0:41
Farm-to-table distillery brings boozy beverages to Goshen

Farm-to-table distillery brings boozy beverages to Goshen

0:22
Westchester County Center to host free prom attire giveaway this weekend

Westchester County Center to host free prom attire giveaway this weekend

0:35
Westchester Craft Beverage Trail takes residents on tour of 2 dozen distilleries

Westchester Craft Beverage Trail takes residents on tour of 2 dozen distilleries

Special teams carry Rangers to a Game 3 win and a 3-0 series lead on the Capitals

Special teams carry Rangers to a Game 3 win and a 3-0 series lead on the Capitals

1:53
Shop Mother’s Day Gifts – Exclusive Offers Up to 75% OFF!

Shop Mother’s Day Gifts – Exclusive Offers Up to 75% OFF!

0:52
Mother and daughter from Mount Vernon sentenced in pandemic-relief fraud scheme

Mother and daughter from Mount Vernon sentenced in pandemic-relief fraud scheme

0:32
Carmel police: Yorktown shoplifting suspects arrested

Carmel police: Yorktown shoplifting suspects arrested

0:52
'Kindness in a cup.' Sleepy Coffee, Too celebrates grand opening in Sleepy Hollow

'Kindness in a cup.' Sleepy Coffee, Too celebrates grand opening in Sleepy Hollow

1:53
Officials call for no-show Orange County legislator to step down after missing meetings for two years

Officials call for no-show Orange County legislator to step down after missing meetings for two years