NILES Police investigate throwing of semen

If tests show the man has a communicable disease, he could face felony charges.
By DENISE DICK
VINDICATOR TRUMBULL STAFF
NILES -- Police are awaiting test results to determine what charges to file against a man they say threw seminal fluid at women at the Eastwood Mall Complex and surrounding shops.
A man, whom police say they saw on mall security video throwing vials, consented to the testing.
If the man is determined to have a communicable disease such as HIV or hepatitis, he could be charged with a felony offense. Otherwise, the charge may be a misdemeanor, police said.
"We're looking at probably criminal mischief," said Capt. Ken Criswell.
Police say the man threw the fluid at at least six women at the mall and Home Depot and Kmart in Howland. Testing determined that the fluid is semen, they said.
Victims: Most of the women, in their teens and 20s, didn't appear on the video to realize there was a problem. Some of the women were shopping with babies or small children, Criswell said.
"He's packaging it in vials, 35 mm film canisters, and I've heard some reports of a spray bottle," the captain said.
Police say they haven't arrested anyone in the offenses, which occurred between Aug. 4 and Nov. 21, because they are awaiting health test results, which are expected this week. The results come back a little at a time in blood testing, Criswell said.
"Some of the women are very angry," he said.
Others are anxious, awaiting news of the man's health status.
The first woman, who filed a police report in August, said she felt something wet on her clothing. She said her mother smelled the fluid and believed it was semen, and they called police.
Police then started reviewing mall security video to find the suspect.
"Mall management, all of the stores' security, have been very cooperative with us," Criswell said.