Father chases down man that groped daughter

SALEM, MA (FOX 25 / MyFoxBoston.com) - Police say 18-year-old Yousef Hashem of West Bridgewater groped a teenage girl and then was chased down by the girl's father.

According to police documents, the 15-year-old New Hampshire girl was walking with her family in the area of an Essex Street pedestrian mall in Salem, MA. Hashem allegedly squeezed the girl's crotch so hard that she fell to the ground.

Yousef took off running but the girl’s father was so irate that he chased Hashem through busy streets, urging bystanders to stop him. A group of Good Samaritans heard the cries for help in front of Murphy's Pub on Derby Street and wrestled Hashem to the ground.

When the father caught up, witnesses say he was so angry he wanted to unleash on Hashem but bouncers at the bar held him back.

Hashem told police he never intended to grope the teen and claims he only accidentally touched the girl when he fell.

Yousef Hashem plead not guilty to indecent assault and disturbing the peace in Salem District Court today.

Salem police say they suspect Hashem in two other similar incidents.

As of yesterday, Hashem was still working at a local family carnival in Salem making pizza. When FOX25's Ted Daniel approached Hashem - identified to us by his sister- he did not want to speak about the allegations detailed in the police report.

A Spokesperson for Fiesta Shows, the company that puts on the carnival, says he will not comment until the case is adjudicated.