The joint operation carried out by the Civil Guard and local police in Lardero, Rioja, resulted in the custody of a 41-year-old man who was taken to court on charges related to harassing minors. The figure faced allegations tied to his conduct both in Lardero and in surrounding towns.
According to a report released by the Civil Guard in La Rioja, a wave of warnings from complainants and concerned residents appeared at the end of April. Citizens reported the appearance of a man lingering near schools and public parks in several municipalities, including Entrena, Lardero, Medrano, and Navarrete.
In Lardero, last October a troubling incident drew attention: the murder of Álex, a nine-year-old who was playing in a public park. The case involved Francisco Javier Almeida, a person who had been released on parole after serving a sentence for murder and a prior sexual assault in 1998. Almeida was later arrested on related charges.
The Civil Guard noted that the suspect now in custody presented a disheveled look, wearing a hood, a mask, and sunglasses, which gave him an unmistakable intention to interact with children. He is alleged to have targeted a minor under twelve years old.
Police authorities created a rapid response plan aimed at preventing further incidents, focusing especially on spaces frequently used by young people, such as parks and areas around schools.
Plainclothes officers conducted a discreet surveillance operation to shield the minor who was allegedly being harassed, ensuring safety at the entry and exit points of the school.
The authorities proceeded with checks to establish the alleged abuser’s full identity. Uniformed officers blocked his path for several days as they moved through sensitive zones, maintaining a cautious, low-speed approach.
The man exhibited nervous behavior and gave inappropriate responses to questions from officers, which led to intensified police monitoring. Investigators later confirmed that the individual showed an obsession with one of the minors involved, according to the Civil Guard.
Reports indicated that during his nocturnal movements the suspect visited portals where minors live or frequent the alleys of Lardero, a town situated about five kilometers from Logroño in the metropolitan area.
The man was arrested on May the fourth after investigators established sufficient rational indicators. He faced accusations of harassing minors and was handed over to the judicial authorities, which ordered him to enter temporary detention, with subsequent release on bail.
Investigative sources noted that the detainee was a neighbor of Lardero and did not appear to have any prior police record involving sexual offenses or abuse of minors.
Initial investigative data reveal that on October twenty-eighth the municipality of Lardero experienced widespread concern when Almeida deceived Álex and brought him to his residence in the town.
Almeida’s sentence from August of the previous year related to a 1998 murder and sexual assault charge had ended, with a seven-year term for another sexual assault case dating back to 1993. Court records show these past events continuing to shape the ongoing investigation.
Further transfers of inmates occurred later, including a move from Logroño prison to another facility, with continued imprisonment reported in subsequent months.
[Source: Civil Guard attribution]n