San Francisco officials, including Mayor Daniel Lurie, Interim Police Chief Paul Yep, District Attorney Brooke Jenkins, and Supervisor Connie Chan, announced an arrest in the case of sexual battery on a minor, which took place at the Golden Gate Park Polo Fields on Tuesday. The incident, which occurred during a youth soccer practice at the park, shocked the local community.
According to CPT Kevin Lee of Richmond Station, police are confident that this is the only suspect and “there is no further threat.”
“This case was an extremely high priority for us,” Interim Chief Yep told reporters.“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. We will never tolerate violence in our city, especially sexual violence. Moreover, we take crimes against minors extremely seriously, and we will do everything within our power to make sure the suspect, in this case, faces justice.”
Lurie announced that a security camera has been installed in the area where the crime occurred and that an additional park ranger has been posted to the area during busy after-school hours.
Yep added that the SFPD’s crime lab expedited the processing of DNA and other evidence, which, along with a tip from a parent, allowed for the identification of the suspect.
The suspect, 19-year-old Dominick Valle-Buitrago, appears to be a resident of San Francisco’s Oceanview neighborhood but was arrested in Pleasant Hill. He was booked last night on several felony charges, including kidnapping, sexual battery, sexual battery on a minor, and other charges. District Attorney Jenkins will determine final charges.
Mayor Daniel Lurie announced that a security camera has been installed in the area where the crime occurred and that an additional Park Ranger has been posted to the area during busy after-school hours.
“San Francisco does not tolerate acts of violence. Through their swift work, the SFPD and our city leaders are sending a clear message: If you commit a crime, you will be found, and you will be arrested,” Mayor Lurie told reporters at the press conference. “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. 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.”
“Today, with this arrest, many families in the Richmond and on the west side can breathe a sigh of relief,” Supervisor Connie Chan, who represents the Richmond, told reporters. “I know families, many of us are gonna take our kids out for Halloween, trick or treat. So, you have no idea how grateful I am, and many families in the Richmond and the West Side, we really are grateful to our law enforcement.
District Attorney Brooke Jenkins told reporters that her office will begin reviewing the case immediately.
“We’ve been in touch with (our Special Victims Unit) since the beginning of this investigation,” said Jenkins. “We now have to see what specific charges we will file, particularly starting with those for which the suspect was booked.”
The charging decision, Jenkins added, is due Monday, and the suspect will likely be arraigned Tuesday.
