Tim Willert
SAN FERNANDO DISTRICT -- A Burbank man who refused to take no for an
answer was arrested after allegedly trying to kiss a woman who refused
his advances, police said.
Lionel Gomez, 22, was arrested Feb. 15 on suspicion of stalking after
he allegedly followed the woman on foot from her home in the 500 block of
Shelton Street to a nearby liquor store, Burbank Police Sgt. John
Dilibert said.
The woman told police she has encountered the man at least twice every
week for the last month as she walked from her home to catch the bus,
Dilibert said.
Gomez reportedly has been very forward in his advances.
"He walked up to her and said, 'I know you,"' Dilibert said. "She
said, 'No, you don't,' and continued walking."
At one point the woman turned and asked the man, "Why do you want to
talk to me?" Dilibert said. "Because I'm lonely," the man answered.
The woman became frightened and ran to a liquor store near the
intersection of Victory and Magnolia boulevards, where she used a pay
phone to call police.
The man, who grabbed the phone from her the first time she attempted
to call 911, tried to kiss her as she made her next attempt to dial for
help, Dilibert said.
Gomez fled the scene, but was arrested a short time later when police
spotted him riding a bicycle south on Lomita Street near Magnolia
Boulevard.
He allegedly had been drinking, said Dilibert, who added that the man
had prior arrests for battery.
"She's tried to change her route a couple of times, and that hasn't
worked," Dilibert said.
