Bedford Man Accused of Approaching Children at Birthday Party

A Bedford man is under arrest after allegedly approaching a group of children Sunday night in Manchester and offering to take them to Chuck E. Cheese with lottery winnings.

According to Manchester Police, 50-year-old Christos Kassaras of Bedford hopped a fence in the rear of a Cedar Street residence where a children's birthday party was being held.

He then allegedly approached several children on the deck of the home, told them he had won the lottery, and offered each $500 to go to Chuck E. Cheese with him, police said.

Though Kassaras never made physical contact with any of the children or make any other effort to abduct or harm them, he was reportedly chased from the location by a mother, who lost him several yards down the road, in the area of Beech Street and Central Street.

Manchester Police responded to the call at 6:10 p.m. and compiled a description of a man they believed to be Kassaras.

He was also suspected of suspicious behavior around 4 p.m. Sunday, when he reportedly harassed a Dunkin' Donuts employee at 1037 Hanover St.

The employee told police the same man had been in the store acting unusual the day before.

A Michigan Avenue resident then approached an investigating officer and reported a suspicious man at the door. Again, the description matched that of Kassaras.

A patrolling officer spotted Kassaras around 7:40 Sunday night, near the intersection of Highland Avenue and Hanover Street, and after a brief foot pursuit, Kassaras was detained by two police officers in the area of 550 Lake Ave.

Kassaras was reportedly acting disorderly, shouting obscenities and disturbing area residents.

He was arrested and charged with resisting arrest, disorderly conduct and criminal trespassing. He was also booked on a violation of bail conditions tied to a prior assault charge.