Orangetown Police: RPC Patient Charged With Stalking 15-Year-Old Girl

Orangetown Police arrested a Rockland Psychiatric Center patient who is accused of stalking a 15-year-old girl Wednesday.

Michael A. Sanchez, 48, lives at the Rockland Psychiatric Center in Orangeburg. He has been charged with Stalking in the fourth degree, a Class B misdemeanor. 

According to the police report, the 15-year-old female called Orangetown Police to report that a man was following her at approximately 3:30 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 19 in the Orangeburgh Shopping Center, located across Orangeburg Road from Orangetown Police Headquarters. She told police that the man approached her in Dunkin Donuts, asking how old she was and offering to buy her a doughnut. She said she became "uneasy" after he made several attempts to speak with her and left Dunkin Donuts. She went into another store in the shopping center and saw that he had followed her. 

After an investigation that followed revealed that Sanchez was the suspect, the Rockland Psychiatric Center's Department of Public Safety surrendered Sanchez to Orangetown Police. Sanchez was returned to the Rockland Psychiatric Center Department of Public Safety after being arrested and charged. He is due to be arraigned in Orangetown Justice Court Dec. 10. 

Orangetown Police Chief Kevin Nulty pointed out that the RPC Safety Department and RPC administration cooperated fully with every step of the investigation. He added that it is his understanding Sanchez's pass to leave the RPC grounds has been revoked. 

"A good job by our patrol officers, detectives and RPC Safety," Nulty said.