Suspect sought in sexual assault of autistic man in San Juan Capistrano library
Sheriff’s deputies are searching for a suspect in the sexual assault of an autistic man at the San Juan Capistrano Public Library in April.
The alleged incident happened at about 1:15 p.m. on Monday, April 16, in the men’s bathroom of the library, according to a Monday news release from the Orange County Sheriff’s Department. A man suspected of committing the crime was caught on video exiting the bathroom shortly after the victim on the day of the reported assault, the release said.
OCSD Investigators are looking for the community’s help to ID a man suspected of sexually assaulting an autistic adult male in the bathroom of the San Juan Capistrano Public Library.
https://t.co/erJIPD4BzE pic.twitter.com/dLydF0qrxf
— OC Sheriff, CA (@OCSD) September 17, 2018
Library staff did not recognize the suspect, who was described as approximately 5 feet 9 inches tall and weighing between 180 and 200 pounds, said Carrie Braun, a spokeswoman for the Orange County Sheriff’s Department. She said he was last seen carrying papers and a manila envelope while wearing blue jeans, black tennis shoes and a white long-sleeved shirt with an American flag printed on it.
The assault was not immediately reported by the victim, which gave the suspect a chance to leave the library before deputies could respond, according to Braun. She said investigators waited to alert the public to the incident in hopes that the man in the video might be caught returning to the library.
Braun said detectives believe this was an isolated incident, but they are checking to see if other similar crimes have happened in the area.
Anyone who can help deputies identify and find the suspect was urged to contact investigators at (714)-647-7464, or dispatchers at (949)-770-6011. Anonymous tips can also be submitted to OC Crime Stoppers at (855)-847-6227.