Crossing Guard Forcibly Touched 15-Year-Old In Lindenhurst, Police Say

A Suffolk County Police Department crossing guard has been arrested for allegedly forcibly touching a 15-year-old girl, police said.

A Suffolk County Police Department school crossing guard was arrested for allegedly forcibly touching a 15-year-old girl.
Photo Credit: *Courtesy of the Norwalk Police Department*

Kathy Reakes

05/23/2019 9:40 a.m.

Philip Bonaventura, 78, of Lindenhurst, a crossing guard assigned to the Allegheny Avenue Elementary School, was arrested on Wednesday, May 22, said the Suffolk County Police.

Bonaventura met the 15-year-old girl when she was walking to pick up a younger sibling. Bonaventura was stationed at the intersection of East Hoffman Avenue and South Delaware Avenue in Lindenhurst when he escorted the girl to a nearby building and allegedly forcibly touched her approximately two weeks ago, police said.

He has been a crossing guard with the Suffolk County Police Department for the past 12 years, police added.

Bonaventura was charged with forcible touching and endangering the welfare of a child. He was released on a Field Appearance Ticket and is scheduled to appear in court on Friday, May 24.

Detectives are asking anyone with information to call the First Squad at 631-854-8152 or anonymously to Crime Stoppers at 1-800-220-TIPS.

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