San Francisco police are investigating a report that a child was sexually assaulted last week in a Golden Gate Park restroom.
According to the SFPD, officers responded to the park around 5:30 p.m. Thursday after a child was attacked in a restroom. San Francisco Youth Soccer confirmed that the child was attending a team practice.
“Investigators are working diligently on this high-priority case,” an SFPD spokesperson said. “This is an active investigation that is moving rapidly, and we hope to have an update promptly.”
Police have not yet announced an arrest or provided a description of a suspect. But on Tuesday, Richmond Station Capt. Kevin Lee said there were three possible suspects and the department was waiting for tests on a DNA sample to identify the attacker, according to the Chronicle (opens in new tab).
In response to the incident, the Recreation and Parks Department said the city installed a security camera and assigned a park ranger to patrol around the bathroom from 3 to 5 p.m. on weekdays, when kids are usually in the area for after-school sports.
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However, when The Standard visited the Polo Field on Monday afternoon, no security presence was visible near the public restrooms, and there was no signage indicating that an assault had occurred.
Rec and Parks said it has advised soccer leagues to have players use the restrooms in groups of two or three. The SFPD said it has assigned more cops to patrol the Richmond after the incident.
Rec and Parks issued a community advisory three days after the alleged attack urging people to send tips with relevant information to ranger dispatch at (415) 242-6390 or to the SFPD at (415) 575-4444.
“We are devastated by this incident,” the communique says. “Everyone in San Francisco deserves to play sports safely, and every parent deserves confidence in their child’s safety. Protecting our players is our highest priority.”
Eloisa Tejero, interim executive director of San Francisco Youth Soccer, said she had received limited information.
“We were informed of the incident by a volunteer coach that was present at the field,” she said by email. “They had learned about the incident from another coach on the field.”
Girls Unite San Francisco Soccer Club, which also practices at Golden Gate Park, emailed families on Monday evening to urge caution.
“The San Francisco Police Department has asked us to remind everyone to be extra vigilant in the Beach Chalet area, particularly in the wooded sections between Park Chalet and Beach Chalet, due to recent concerning activity — including registered offenders found in the vicinity,” the club wrote.
The club told families to use the main parking lot for drop-off and pickup — not the Park Chalet lot — and to stick to paved, well-traveled paths when walking to and from the fields. It also suggested avoiding public transit after dark, and echoed the city’s advice to use the buddy system when going to the restroom.
At a track meet at the fields Monday afternoon, parents of participating high schoolers were unaware of the reported assault.
“That’s disturbing,” said one mom, who said she was going to make a point to bring it up to her daughter after the meet. “They should put something on the bathrooms.”