Tamaqua police have issued an arrest warrant for Thomas Edward Rockwell, 78, of 318 Lafayette St., Tamaqua. He is wanted in connection with the indecent assaults of three girls under the age of 10. The incidents took place at Rockwell's rental properties on Arlington Street.

According to statements made by the mothers of the victims, Rockwell would visit his properties unannounced, not waiting for permission to enter the apartments. Some of those times were supposedly to make repairs, while other times he just wanted to talk. On many occasions, he brought gifts for the children.On Aug. 19, he went to one of the properties and entered the living room, positioning himself between an 8-year-old girl and the other people in the room. When an adult noticed the child squirming on the couch, she stood up to investigate. She saw that Rockwell's pants were unzipped and she removed the child from the room. She then told the child's mother, and the two women went to police the following day.Officers then spoke with the child, who said Rockwell often had his zipper open in front of her. He also touched her groin area almost every time he was at the apartment, saying he "was always there." A 10-year-old girl told the officer that Rockwell had been stripping in front of her for at least two years. Several times, he invited her to touch his private parts. She would decline and then leave the area. She also said he would touch her private area, over the top of her clothes, and then give her money.A third victim became known to police in October. This victim is a 4-year-old girl. The preschooler's mother told officers that Rockwell, her landlord, would enter her apartment, unannounced and uninvited. Many times, he brought gifts for her children. During the time she was his tenant, there were two occasions where she found him fondling her daughter. On another occasion, she found him in her daughter's bedroom. The child was in her underwear and Rockwell had his hands inside his unzipped pants. When asked what he was doing, he replied that the child wanted him "to see her room."Tamaqua Cpl. Henry Woods filed charges against Rockwell after he failed to turn himself in to police as directed. The charges include multiple felony and misdemeanor counts of indecent assault and misdemeanor counts of corruption of minors and indecent exposure.Anyone with information on Rockwell's whereabouts is asked to contact Tamaqua Police at 570-668-5000 or 570-668-6100.