Meriden Man Charged After Exposing Himself to Stranger

A Meriden woman has learned the hard way not to take a ride from a stranger during the early morning hours after police said he made strong sexual advances and grabbed her breasts, then tried several times to take her to a hotel room before she finally called police.

Officers took John Zurlo, of 104 Wilcox Ave. in Meriden, into custody last week on charges of fourth-degree sexual assault, third-degree assault, second-degree threatening and disorderly conduct. He was released after posting a $50,000 bond and given a court date of June 19.

Police said Zurlo picked a woman up on Wednesday morning as she was walking down a Meriden street around 4 a.m. The woman willingly got into the car with him and the two drove toward the Berlin Turnpike, according to a police report.

It was there that things took a strange turn, Det. Lt. Mark Walerysiak said.

“He asked if she would get a room with him and the woman refused,” Walerysiak said. “He pulled down his pants, exposing himself, and then proceeded to grab the woman’s breasts and told her ‘this is what you are missing’.”

The woman refused him again and he dropped her off at a nearby hotel, police said. The woman began walking up the turnpike and the man returned to ask her if she had reconsidered. Walerysiak said that was when she decided to call police.

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