MEDIA RELEASE / COMMUNITY ALERT
For Immediate Release No. 20201112-075
Thursday, November 12, 2020
Registered Sex Offender Arrested for Forced Sexual Acts with a 10-Year-Old
Officers arrested a suspect after he cornered a child inside a laundromat and forced himself upon her to commit sexual acts. The child was physically unharmed and ran to safety.
San Mateo, CA – On Wednesday, November 11, 2020 at 2:08 p.m., San Mateo Police Department officers arrested Ignacio Rosendo Martinez, a high risk sex offender, on a multitude of sexual assault charges after video footage showed him pulling down his pants, bear-hugging a 10-year-old girl, and thrusting his pelvis against her backside. The suspect ran away and was located hiding in an apartment complex boiler room a few blocks away. He was positively identified by the victim and transported to San Mateo County Jail.
On Wednesday, November 11, 2020 at 11:12 a.m., San Mateo police officers were dispatched to Mas Wash and Dry Laundromat located at 364 N Ellsworth Avenue on report of indecent exposure that occurred 30 minutes prior. Officers learned a pair of sisters, 10 and 12-years-olds, rode their bicycles to the laundromat. As the older sister was locking up both bikes, the 10-year-old walked into the laundromat to exchange coins. While doing so, the suspect walked up behind her, pulled down his pants, and bear-hugged the child while thrusting his pelvis onto her for about 25 seconds. The suspect attempted to pull the child into a back room, however, she escaped his tight grip and ran crying to her sister outside. The children raced home and told their mom who immediately called police. Video security footage obtained by officers confirmed the incident and helped officers identify the suspect from previous contacts.
Officers searched the area, however, did not immediately locate the suspect. At 1:59 p.m., officers were called to an apartment complex in the 200 block of Elm Street regarding a homeless man trespassing on the premise. Once on scene, officers located the trespasser in a boiler room and identified him as the same person pictured in the video footage obtained during the sexual assault investigation. The victim was contacted and later positively identified Ignacio Rosendo Martinez as the suspect who assaulted her. Martinez was arrested and transported to San Mateo County Jail. He was booked on a multitude of sexual assault charges.
The San Mateo Police Department continues to investigate this case. According to http://www.meganslaw.ca.gov/, Ignacio Martinez is listed as a high risk sex offender. If you or someone you know has been victimized by him, please contact the San Mateo Police Department at (650) 522-7700. Anonymous tips can be submitted to http://tinyurl.com/SMPDTips or by calling (650) 522-7676.
Parents and guardians should make child safety part of a child’s everyday life in a reassuring way. Whether it is checking first with a trusted adult, taking a friend, or avoiding and getting out of potentially dangerous situations, there are easy “what-if” scenarios you may practice with your children to make sure they understand and get it. Make outings to a mall or the park a teachable moment to make sure your children understand the safety messages and can use them in real-life situations. Children will begin to learn what to do if they become lost or are in danger by practicing these “what-if” scenarios with you on a regular basis. For more information and teaching tools, please visit https://www.kidsmartz.org/. It is available in Spanish too!
ARRESTED
Ignacio Rosendo Martinez, 46-year-old transient
Charges: Assault to commit rape (220 PC), Attempted rape (664/261 PC), attempted kidnapping (664/207 PC), contact minor with intent to commit a felony (288.3(a) PC), commit lewd acts by force/fear (288(b)1 PC), willful cruelty to a child (273a(a) PC, annoy/molest child (647.6(a)(1) PC, failure to register as a sex offender (290(g)(1) PC), violation of parole terms (3056 PC), outside agency warrant
MEDIA INQUIRES
Michael Haobsh
Public Information Officer | Office of the Chief
City of San Mateo Police Department
200 Franklin Pkwy, San Mateo, CA 94403
650-522-7626 | [email protected]
###
