More than a month after a disabled woman became the victim of a sexual incident in El Cerrito, police said the suspect in the case turned himself in to authorities on Tuesday.
According to police, 28-year-old Hugo Antonio Martinez Ortigoza arrived at the El Cerrito police station with his lawyer and was arrested on suspicion of sexual abuse. He did not provide a statement to investigators.
Police said Martinez Ortigoza is connected to an incident that occurred on the afternoon of November 13.
El Cerrito Police Station
Investigators said the victim, who is visually and hearing impaired, was followed by a man through several city blocks to a remote residential area. In the area of Stockton Avenue near Elm Street, police said the man approached the victim from behind and slapped her buttocks before fleeing.
Police said the public then helped identify Martinez Ortigoza as a suspect Officers shared surveillance footage from local businesses.
“The department would like to thank all those individuals who provided valuable tips to our investigators that led to the identification and arrest of Martinez Ortigoza,” the department said in a statement Tuesday.
It was not immediately known when he would appear in court on the charges.
