Middlesex County officials announced today that a Highland Park man has been arrested and charged with luring, endangerment, and promoting prostitution of two juveniles in the Borough.
Officials said Mr. Genaro Gutierrez, 63, of Highland Park was arrested yesterday and charged with two counts of promoting prostitution in the first degree, two counts of luring in the second degree, and two counts of endangering the welfare of a child in the third degree.
Gutierrez was arrested and charged following an investigation by Detective Guy Palumbo of the Highland Park Police Department and Detective Amanda Espinosa of the Middlesex County Prosecutor’s Office.
Police said the investigation determined that on June 16, 2020 at approximately 5:45 pm near the Quick Check, located at 130 Woodbridge Avenue, Gutierrez approached two juvenile females, ages 11 and 12, and propositioned the two juveniles.
The girls fled the area and informed their parents, who then notified the police.
Police say the area was searched by police in an attempt to locate the suspect. Gutierrez was located on June 18 and arrested then charged.
The investigation is active and continuing. Anyone with information is asked to call Detective Guy Palumbo at (732) 572-3800 or Detective Amanda Espinosa at (732) 745-8083.
Gutierrez is being held at the Middlesex County Adult Correction Center in North Brunswick pending a Detention Hearing.
As is the case with all criminal defendants, the charges against Gutierrez are merely accusations and he is presumed innocent until proven guilty.