19-year-old suspect arrested for sexual assault of child in Golden Gate Park bathroom, SFPD says

SAN FRANCISCO (KGO) -- A sense of relief is what residents around Golden Gate Park described feeling after police confirmed an arrest was made in the sexual assault of a girl.

"It's good that there was an arrest," said San Francisco resident Liz Mamorsky.

"I hope they throw the book at him," said San Francisco resident Devi Joseph.

"Anybody that goes into the bathroom shouldn't have to be worried about that," said Michael Chew, a Daly City resident who goes to the park every week.

The sexual assault happened at one of the bathrooms at Golden Gate Park near the Polo Fields last week, where the child was attending soccer practice.

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Mayor Daniel Lurie commended the police department for the urgency and for the arrest.

"As a father, my heart goes out to the child and their family during this painful time. Your city is here to support you. I want to thank the officers who worked around the clock to make this arrest," Lurie said.

SFPD confirmed its officers tracked down and arrested a 19-year-old male in Pleasant Hill on Thursday, one week after the attack.

"Crime lab expedited the processing of DNA evidence and other evidence. While our officers zeroed in on one suspect. We began to focus on that individual after getting a tip from a parent, which was a valuable lead in this case," said SFPD Interim Police Chief Paul Yep.

Investigators are also reviewing evidence to see if this suspect was involved in another incident at the park.

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"Another report that was on file that we are looking at as possibly connected, but a far less serious crime at that time," said Tom Maguire, SFPD commander of the Investigations Bureau.

The attack has had families on edge since it happened in a bathroom at the Polo Fields, where many kids have sports practice.

City officials hope the arrest brings some peace of mind to families who visit the park.

"For so many families, Golden Gate Park is a place of joy, it's where our kids, including my own go to play and to grow," Mayor Daniel Lurie said. "Like any parent, I want to know that my kids are going to be safe when they go to the park and every family deserves that."

"I, too, am a parent of children who play soccer in this city, including a 9-year-old daughter who has practices at these fields countless times," District Attorney Brooke Jenkins said. "And I know what this has done and how this has rocked the parent community, the soccer community across our city. And so, this is one step forward to making sure that parents across this city are reassured that when we take our children to practice that they will be safe, and that this city will respond if something does happen that requires this level of a response."

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After the incident, the San Francisco Rec and Parks Department increased safety around the bathrooms.

"I'm thankful the San Francisco Recreation and Parks Department jumped in and immediately installed surveillance cameras, and there is monitoring onsite right now. But I also think what is important is that the Rec and Parks Department has increased patrol of our park rangers," said SF Supervisor Connie Chan.

The 19-year-old male suspect was booked on several felony charges, including kidnapping, sexual battery and sexual battery of a minor.

"We will do everything in our power to bring this person to justice, so we are reassured again as a community, as parents and as San Franciscans, that we have one less predator on our streets," Jenkins said.

Jenkins said her team is reviewing the evidence in this case and will make formal charges next week.