ASPEN, Colorado — A 30-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of harassing and stalking two teenage girls on Tuesday.

The girls called police after they said the man, later identified as Fermin Membrano-Membrano of El Salvador, followed them onto a downvalley bus each day after school in recent weeks.

The girls told police that the man made obscene gestures and comments and took photos of them.

Police were on the lookout for Membrano-Membrano on Wednesday afternoon when the girls dialed 911 to report that they spotted him shortly before 4 p.m. at the downvalley bus stop just west of the roundabout near the Entrance to Aspen.

The girls said Membrano-Membrano was driving a blue Jeep Cherokee and an Aspen officer caught up with the vehicles further west of the roundabout.

The girls identified Membrano-Membrano and officer Terry Leitch took the man to the Pitkin County Jail on allegations of harassment, a misdemeanor, and stalking, a class 3 felony.

Membrano-Membrano was held on a $2,800 bond, then on an Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) hold.

Leitch said the girls did the right thing by telling a Pitkin County deputy at their school.
“They’ve got the guts and came forward and made the report,” Leitch said. He congratulated the girls on giving a precise description of the Jeep, including the license plate number.

Leitch said that many young people hesitate in such cases, and that the girls set a good example on Tuesday.

Membrano-Membrano will be advised of the charges before a district court judge on Thursday.

cagar@aspentimes.com.