Homeowners: Man caught on camera performing lewd act in front of stranger's Stratford home
Stratford police arrested Rickardo Rhoden, of Bridgeport, after the second time the couple caught him on camera trespassing.
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A Stratford couple is concerned after they say a man has repeatedly trespassed onto their property and committed a lewd act captured on their doorbell camera.
Stratford police arrested Rickardo Rhoden, of Bridgeport, after the second time the couple caught him on camera trespassing.
Homeowners Eddy Vazquez and Jasmine Villafane say they were having breakfast at 6 a.m. when their doorbell camera captured a person outside their front door. Video appears to show Rhoden performing a lewd act.
“I’ve got a 5-year-old having breakfast before school. I don't think any parent in their right mind would appreciate that type of trauma to a child and we're right across the street from two schools,” said Vazquez.
Vazquez says he didn’t find out until he checked his camera footage hours later. Five days after that incident, he says he received another notification, again at 6 a.m.
The couple says the man was dressed in the same sweatshirt — trespassing, but not performing the act. Vazquez says he chased and detained the man, later identified as Rhoden.
“I'm worried about (Eddy’s) safety. I'm worried about my safety. I'm worried about my kids' safety,” said Villafane.
Police charged Rhoden with assault, criminal trespassing and breach of peace. Villafane says charges for the lewd act caught on video are pending.
“I just felt violated, really. Your home is supposed to be your safe zone, it's supposed to be your comfort zone, and he completely stripped that,” said Villafane.
According to court documents, Rhoden told police he was just walking by.
News 12 Connecticut reported Rhoden’s prior arrest in 2015 for allegedly watching a woman shower and committing a lewd act in Bridgeport.
The homeowners say they don’t know why Rhoden went to their house or if he will return.
Police noted a similar incident reported in July about a half mile away. The homeowners say they know there are other victims.
“We've had friends and associates reach out to us that have already experienced the same situations with this guy,” said Vazquez. “This is going to be a face that, eventually, you're going to see around this area again, and you need to know what this individual does.”
Court documents say Rhoden is due back in court in a week.
