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Chapel Hill Assault Suspect Has Death Wish, Father Says

Chapel Hill police say a convicted sex offender suspected of crimes in Chapel Hill and Alamance County could provoke police to attack him.

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CHAPEL HILL, N.C. — Chapel Hill police say a convicted sex offender suspected of crimes in Chapel Hill and Alamance County could provoke police to attack him.

Chapel Hill police are looking for Daniel Berarducci, who they say grabbed a woman in the 500 block of Hillsborough Street last Tuesday.

Berarduci's father said his son has a death wish to commit suicide by provoking police into shooting him.

Authorities are also investigating whether Berarducci is the same man who grabbed another woman Tuesday on a walking trail near Forest Theater on the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill campus.

Last Wednesday, in Mebane, police arrested Berarducci in connection with similar incidents from November and December.

He was released on bond before the two agencies realized they were looking for the same man.

Berarducci spent  three years in prison for kidnapping and taking indecent liberties with a child. He was released from prison in August.

Anyone with information on his whereabouts is asked to contact the Chapel Hill Police Department at 919-968-2760.

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