Man, 70, 'Inappropriately Touched' Teen on Peninsula Bus: Police

SAN MATEO, CA- After asking for the public's help to identify a man suspected of inappropriately touching a 17-year-old girl last week in San Mateo, police said Tuesday the suspect has been arrested.

Around 3 p.m. Monday, officers arrested 70-year-old Mounir El Gendy at his home in the 400 block of Bermuda Drive on suspicion of annoying a child and sexual battery, according to police spokesman Sgt. Rick Decker.

Police had been seeking El Gendy in connection with the incident, which took place on a SamTrans bus, police said.

At about 11:20 a.m. on March 15, El Gendy allegedly boarded the bus at the corner of South B Street and First Avenue. He then sat down next to the teen and tried to start a conversation with her, according to police.

El Gendy put his arm around the girl multiple times and touched her face, police said. The girl told him to stop repeatedly.

El Gendy also allegedly tried unsuccessfully to place his hand under her shirt and once asked her for a kiss, police said.

A few minutes later, he got off the bus in the first block of West Hillsdale Boulevard, near the Hillsdale Shopping Center.

Decker said that after appealing to the public, police received numerous tips about the man's identity.

"Thankfully we had a huge outpouring from the community," Decker said. "We still believe it's an isolated incident, but we're continuing to investigate to see if it's related to any other similar complaints."

— By Bay City News Service.  Image courtesy of the San Mateo Police Department.