NORWALK — A man suspected of sexually assaulting a girl in South Whittier is in custody Tuesday.
Deputies from the Norwalk Sheriff’s Station responded about 2 p.m. Sunday to the Stater Bros. market at 14212 Mulberry Drive in South Whittier regarding a sexual assault, according to Fox 11.
According to the sheriff’s department, the victim told detectives the suspect followed her into a restroom at the store, locked the door and allegedly attempted to sexually assault her.
The female victim is 16 years old, Fox 11 reported.
The victim screamed for help, and store employees and customers came to her aid, according to detectives. Store employees entered the bathroom and subsequently detained the suspect pending the arrival of deputies.
The victim was taken to a hospital, where she was treated, and the suspect was arrested and booked at the Norwalk Sheriff’s Station.
Steven Magdaleno, 38, is in custody and is being held on $250,000 bail. He is scheduled for arraignment on Tuesday at the Bellflower Courthouse.
Based on the nature of the alleged assault, detectives believe there may be additional unidentified victims and are seeking the public’s help in identifying them.
Anyone with information about this alleged assault was asked to call the Sheriff’s Special Victims Bureau at 877-710-5273 or by email at specialvictimsbureau@lasd.org.
Anonymous tips can be called in to Crime Stoppers at 800-222-8477 or submitted online at lacrimestoppers.org.
Whittier Daily News staff writer Steven Rosenberg contributed to this report.
Source: Orange County Register
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