A 19-year-old has been arrested and identified as the suspect in the sexual assault of a child last week in a Golden Gate Park restroom, authorities say.
The attack prompted heightened security in the city’s marquee park.
Dominick Valle-Buitrago was taken into custody Thursday in Pleasant Hill on felony charges including alleged sexual battery and kidnapping, the San Francisco Police Department announced.
“This case has been extremely troubling for the community,” Interim Chief Paul Yep said at a press conference Friday. “We will never tolerate violence in our city, especially sexual violence.”
The case’s resolution was aided by community vigilance and DNA evidence, police said. A parent provided a valuable tip that helped investigators narrow their focus, according to authorities. The police crime lab expedited processing of DNA evidence, and officers surveilled the suspect as investigators gathered probable cause for the arrest.
“The San Francisco Police Department poured resources into this case to get the suspect in custody and bring peace of mind to our youth, parents, and everyone else in San Francisco,” Yep said.
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The attack happened Oct. 23 in a restroom near the Polo Field, which are often filled with youth athletic teams on weekday afternoons. The police spoke to the victim, who was attending soccer practice, and witnesses that day, Yep said.
“The crime committed last week was extremely upsetting,” Mayor Daniel Lurie told reporters in a press conference Friday morning. “The safety of our kids is nonnegotiable. My heart goes out to the child and their family during this painful time.”
More rangers were deployed to monitor the areas around park restrooms, and a surveillance camera was installed, the Recreation and Parks Department said. The department told soccer league officials to encourage players to stay in groups when using the bathrooms.
District Attorney Brooke Jenkins said a charging decision is due Monday and arraignment expected Tuesday. She noted that DNA evidence, while not always necessary, provides important corroborating evidence in cases involving minors.
Supervisor Connie Chan, who represents the Richmond, where the park is located, said families can “breathe a sigh of relief.”
“We are committed to support the victim and their family and all the families impacted during this time of healing,” she said.