Police Release Details About Suspect, 20, Arrested in Child Groping Incidents

On Thursday San Leandro police said they have arrested a 20-year-old San Leandro man who allegedly inappropriately touched young girls at Walmart and Target stores earlier this week. The suspect, whose identity has not yet been released, was identified after police released video footage on Wednesday taken at the Bayfair Center Target store during the incidents, which occurred Monday evening.

The girls targeted by the suspect were 6 and 9 years old, according to police. In each case, the suspect inappropriately touched a young girl at the store and then fled. Police today said an off-duty Berkeley community service officer who had seen the video footage recognized the suspect this morning at a 7-Eleven store in the 15100 block of Hesperian Blvd.

Related: Police Arrest Suspect in Child Molestations in San Leandro Walmart & Target

The man was dressed in a black dress shirt and black slacks, similar to the outfit seen on the suspect in the surveillance footage. The officer took cell phone photos of the man and his car and called police, but when they arrived, he was gone. Detectives were able to use the information, however, to identify the suspect and located him working at a Peninsula parking garage.

They found him there with 20 to 30 other employees all dressed in similar clothing, but were able to identify and question him. He was arrested on suspicion of committing lewd and lascivious acts on children under the age of 14, police said.

Police said the man has lived in San Leandro for the past six months, and previously lived in Southern California. Detectives are in contact with law enforcement in other communities to determine whether he has been connected with other crimes.

By Bay City News

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