Dad arrested after fondling young girls

Stamford, Conn. (WTNH) - A Stamford father is facing sexual abuse charges after being accused of fondling six girls while chaperoning a school field trip to New York City.

Tomas Manzano, 35 is accused of fondling six 10 and 11 year old girls during the StillMeadow School Fifth grade field trip on Wednesday.

"I'm just very upset, because my daughter is upset and I just can't believe what happened," said Iris Hogan the mother of one of the victims.

The principal reports that all of the girls were back in school on Thursday, but he says he will review the process of picking parent chaperones a little more closely in the future. "We know who this parent is, there have been no problems in the past, in fact this parent was just on a recent trip," said Principal Michael Sanders.

It turns out Manzano has been a chaperone before and this time he was on a trip with his son. Sanders says Manzano was one of 39 other chaperones and that he was fine during the trip to the zoo, but when the double decker bus arrived at a Times Square resturant, other adults noticed Manzano allegedly touching some of the girls. Sanders took action and called 911. "I needed the police, I needed expertise and I needed to act in the best interest of my kids," added Sanders.

The New York Police Department responded and says that Manzano appeared to be drunk and resisted arrest. He is charged with endangering the welfare of a child and sexual abuse.

When News 8 knocked at the door to Manzano's home, no one answered.

Parents and the fifth graders affected met Thursday morning and are being offered counseling. "Yesterday, my daughter just wanted to keep it a secret because she was very upset and very afraid," continued Hogan.

The principal said a field trip scheduled to take place Friday will go on as scheduled.