Las Cruces man arrested after being suspected of groping teen girls at bus stop

A Las Cruces man suspected of groping two teenage girls at a bus stop Monday has been arrested.

Las Cruces Police said Derrick McDaniel, 50, is charged with two counts of criminal sexual contact of a minor. Both charges are fourth-degree felony counts.

Detectives learned that McDaniel was at the Subway restaurant, at 2780 W. Picacho Blvd., around 2 p.m. on Monday, where he was kicked out by store management for allegedly making loud and sexually explicit comments to other customers.

Amongst the customers inside the Subway at the time were two sisters, ages 14 and 16, who were having lunch with their family.

After leaving the restaurant, the girls were waiting at a nearby bus stop when McDaniel approached and sat down between them. Detectives learned that McDaniel commented on the girls’ looks before allegedly groping both sisters.

Police were called and McDaniel was detained without further incident.

McDaniel was booked into the Dona Ana County Detention Center where he is being held on $50,000 bond.