A 22-year-old Georgia man has been arrested in connection with an alleged confrontation involving a University of North Florida student with autism, who police say was followed into a campus bathroom and restrained inside a stall.
Jack Tyler Laroche was arrested in Jacksonville after the Aug. 21 incident. According to police, Laroche allegedly followed the student through a university residence building before entering the bathroom stall where the student had sought refuge. Investigators say the encounter was recorded as part of an attempt to create YouTube content.
Laroche faces charges including abuse of a disabled adult without causing great bodily harm, false imprisonment and providing false information to law enforcement.
Student Allegedly Followed Into Campus Bathroom
Police said the student first became concerned after noticing an unfamiliar man following him near his dormitory. The student reportedly attempted to get away by going to a friend’s room, but the man allegedly continued following him.
Unable to enter the friend’s room, the student went into a bathroom in the building’s lobby and entered a stall.
According to investigators, Laroche entered the neighboring stall, looked over the divider and began talking to the student before allegedly entering the locked stall himself.
The student told police he felt unable to leave. Laroche allegedly asked for the student’s phone number, called it to verify the number and then recorded him inside the stall.
Police further allege that Laroche placed the student in a headlock and repeatedly flicked him in the face. The student’s glasses reportedly fell to the floor and were damaged during the encounter.
Police Say Student Was Told to Wait 10 Minutes
Before leaving, Laroche allegedly instructed the student to set a 10-minute timer on his phone. Police said he warned the student not to leave until the timer expired and threatened to return if he did.
Campus surveillance footage reportedly showed the suspect entering the bathroom at about 3:45 p.m. and leaving roughly 14 minutes later.
The student remained inside until the timer ended because he was afraid, according to the police report. He then went to campus police to report what had happened.
Investigators documented minor abrasions on the student’s nose and swelling on his cheeks. Police also said the student’s damaged glasses were part of the reported incident.
Suspect Allegedly Gave Police a False Name
After receiving the student’s report, an officer contacted the phone number allegedly obtained during the encounter. The person who answered reportedly identified himself as “Jack Jones” and claimed to be 65 years old and located in Georgia.
Police later found Laroche on the university campus. He allegedly repeated the false identity and claimed he was a UNF student, although investigators said he could not identify the dormitory where he supposedly lived.
After the student identified him, Laroche reportedly provided his real name, which officers confirmed through identification found in his wallet.
Police said Laroche initially denied entering a campus building. After officers told him surveillance footage placed him inside, he acknowledged using a bathroom but continued to deny having contact with the student.
According to investigators, Laroche said he had been on campus to make YouTube videos and characterized his actions as simply “fooling around.”
Laroche was taken to the Duval County Jail. He faces the three charges related to the alleged encounter. The case remains a criminal allegation, and the charges do not constitute a finding of guilt.
