Modesto CA – On January 31st deputies took a report from a 15-year-old girl who had been groped by a Hispanic man while she was walking to a school bus stop. The victim reported the incident occurred between 6:40 and 7:20 a.m. while walking to a bus stop on Crowslanding Road and Butte Avenue. The man was on a bicycle when he grabbed her buttocks and rode away. The victim provided a general description of the suspect. She also took a cell phone photograph of the man as he rode away from her. The suspect shielded his face from the victim as she took the photograph.
During the initial investigation deputies learned there were possibly three other victims. Deputies created a crime bulletin with the photograph of the suspect and shared it with local law enforcement agencies to try and identify him. Patrol deputies and detectives in unmarked police cars began to search for the suspect. Detectives were also working with probation officers to try and identify the man.
On 02-08-17 detectives interviewed the victim and she provided additional names of other victims. Detectives learned there were seven victims who had been groped by the suspect as they walked to school in the morning. The ages of the girls range from 14 to 16-years-old. The victims were groped by the suspect in the areas of Glenn Avenue and Dallas Street, and Seattle Street and Butte Avenue.
On 02-09-17 detectives and STING deputies set up an undercover operation using a female deputy as a student. At approximately 7:20 a.m. she was walking westbound on Butte Avenue headed to the Glenn Avenue bus stop. A Hispanic man on a bike rode up next to her and grabbed her buttocks. He began to ride away and she grabbed the man to take him into custody. STING deputies also arrived on scene and he was arrested. The suspect was identified as 34-year-old Richard Garcia of Modesto. Garcia was booked into the county jail for sexual battery. Detectives will conduct follow-up investigation with the victims for possible identification of the suspect.
Detectives are asking any victims to contact Detective Esquivez at 209-525-7050.
If you have any tips, you can leave an anonymous tip by calling Crime Stoppers at (209) 521-4636. Tipsters can also e-mail tips at http://www.modestopolice.com/CrimeStoppers, or text them to CRIMES (274637) by typing "Tip704" plus the message and be eligible for a cash reward
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Adam Christianson, Sheriff – Coroner
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