Man, 19, Charged With Risk Of Injury To Minor He Met Online: North Haven Police

NORTH HAVEN, CT — A 19-year-old New London man is accused of misrepresenting his age and engaging in “sexual activity” with a juvenile he met online, according to North Haven police.

Police said officers responded to a home on Oct. 2 following a report that an unknown adult male had “befriended a juvenile through an online gaming platform and subsequently engaged in sexual activity with the minor after misrepresenting his age.”

Through multiple search warrants, interviews, and collaboration with the Yale Child Study Center, North Haven detectives identified the suspect as 19-year-old Phillip Romero-Cruz of New London, according to police.

Romero-Cruz was arrested Wednesday, Dec. 24, on a warrant and charged with risk of injury to a minor.

“The North Haven Police Department urges parents and youth to practice safe online behaviors and remain vigilant when using online gaming and social media platforms,” police wrote in a post on Facebook. “While we strive to prevent these crimes from ever occurring, the department remains fully committed to utilizing all available resources to hold offenders accountable and protect our community’s youth.”