COCONUT CREEK, Fla. – Police arrested a man earlier this month on some starting allegations, calling what he allegedly did a pattern of predatory behavior.
That’s why they believe there may be more victims out there.
Coconut Creek police arrested 22-year-old Ternell Cartagena, who went by the nickname “Nuk,” on Feb. 9.
According to police, the victims were two underage girls, a 13-year-old and her friend, who is under 16.
Their first encounter with him allegedly happened at the Promenade at Coconut Creek.
Police said they wanted vape pens and a friend put them in touch with Cartagena, who supplied the vapes and exchanged numbers with the girls.
Then later that night, police said Cartagena texted one of the girls, asking her if she wanted to hook up with him. Police said one girl was hesitant because she knew Cartagena was older. It was unclear based off police reports which girl received the text message and which one was hesitant to meet with him, as their names were redacted.
“Just the way this guy operated and what he did, it leads us to believe there could be more victims out there that we would like to find,” Coconut Creek Police spokesman Scotty Leamon told Local 10 on Wednesday.
Police say Cartagena later picked up the girls, taking them to a back parking lot of an apartment complex on Lyons Road, where they performed oral sex on him.
After Cartagena dropped off the older girl, he took the 13-year-old to a parking lot on Sample Road, where they had sex, authorities said.
According to police, in text messages later, Cartagena said that he wanted to bring a 20-year-old man and a 21-year-old man to have sex with the teen in exchange for nicotine and weed, but she told him no and that it was a bad idea.
“When you look at this, this is predatory behavior, so it is important for parents to understand that there are guys out there,” said Leamon.
Police said the teen claimed to continue receiving text messages from Cartagena, asking to participate in threesomes with other males and females.
Police now want any other potential victims to come forward.
“We’re hoping that somebody recognizes that name, Nuk, maybe sees his picture (and) says, ‘I remember going over and dropping my teenagers off here and that guy was around,’” said Leamon.
Cartagena is facing at least five felony charges related to this alleged activity.
As of Wednesday, he was being held at the Paul Rein Detention Facility without bond.
Anyone with further information that could be useful to investigators is urged to call the Coconut Creek Police Department or Broward Crime Stoppers at (954) 493-TIPS.