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Maple Heights man arrested for allegedly groping two teenage girls on their way to school

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A Maple Heights man was arrested Friday morning for allegedly groping two teens this week as they walked to school.

James Pyles, 33, was charged with two counts of gross sexual imposition. 

The first incident happened on Monday.

According to police, a 13-year-old girl was walking to school around 6:40 a.m. on the 5400 block of Mayville Avenue when she was approached by a man who allegedly grabbed her and touched her inappropriately. The man told the teen she was attractive and to keep walking with him but fled when a car drove nearby, police said.

The second incident happened Friday morning just before 8 a.m.

Police said a 17-year-old girl had just been dropped off near the high school and was approached by a man who then groped her and told her she was "pretty." The teen was able to get away from the man and call her father who then called the police.

Authorities located Pyles nearby and apprehended him after a lengthy foot chase. Pyles was named as the suspect in both incidents. He was arrested and taken to Maple Heights City Jail.