Crime & Safety

Southland Manhunt Underway for Pico Rivera Child Molester

Authorities are seeking the public's help in identifying a man accused of sexually assaulting a 6-year-old boy in the bathroom of a park in Pico Rivera this past weekend.

Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department detectives are hoping a recently released composite sketch of an alleged child molester will help them nab the man accused of raping a 6-year-old boy in a Pico Rivera park bathroom stall.

According to detectives, the sexual assault occurred on Saturday, July 2 at Rio Hondo Park, located in the 8300 block of Beverly Boulevard, in Pico Rivera -- less than 15 miles from the Cerritos-Artesia area.

" ... He went into the bathroom alone, and was sexually molested by
the white man with tattoos on his neck and one arm,'' said sheriff's Lt. Robert Smith of the Pico Riviera Station.

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After the assault, the man walked the boy out to his mother, witnesses
told ABC7. The boy was crying, and the man told the mother the boy was calling for her and handed him over. At least one person said the suspect might have an English or Irish accent.

After a few moments, the boy told his mother what happened, and she
alerted authorities. The suspect fled in a white van with a partial license of 6J-----, witnesses told deputies.

Find out what's happening in Cerritos-Artesiawith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Suspect Description

The suspect is described as white man in his 30's, who is 6-foot to 6-foot 2-inches inches tall and weighs about 200 pounds. He has blonde hair and blue eyes, has a mustache and goatee, and was last seen wearing a dark basketball jersey and dark basketball shorts. Witnesses also old deputies the blond, blue-eyed man wore a bandanna with Mexican flag on it on his head.

Suspect Vehicle

The suspect fled in a vehicle described as a white minivan with a partially-known California license plate of "6J-----." 

Anyone with more information about the alleged crime was asked to call detectives at (323) 890-5500 or the LASD's Special Victims bureau at (877) . Anonymous tips can be left at (800) 222-TIPS (8477) or via lacrimestoppers.org.

Tips to Help Keep Your Kids Safe

Summertime means children and families are spending more time outdoors, especially in the Cerritos-Artesia area where the communities are filled with parks and huge outdoor play spaces. 

With kids spending more time outside, the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children recommends that parents and guardians consider children’s summer activities, both structured and unstructured, and take responsible actions to help keep them safer. for the Patch article outlining these safety tips.


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