201909.25
0

Man suspected in Aliso Creek Hiking Trail incident is arrested

by in News

Deputies arrested an Aliso Viejo man Wednesday, Sept. 25, who was suspected of inappropriately touching a minor along a popular hiking trail where two attempted kidnappings and two cases of child molestation had been reported over the past two weeks.

Christopher Lopez, 30, was taken into custody at about 12 p.m. and booked on suspicion of misdemeanor child molestation, Orange County Sheriff’s Department officials said in a news release. He was identified as a suspect in one incident at the Aliso Creek Hiking trail during the course of an investigation by a Sheriff’s task force that was formed last week to look into four recently reported crimes in the area.
Orange County Sheriff’s deputies arrested Christoper Lopez, 30, of Aliso Viejo Wednesday, Sept. 25, on suspicion of molesting a minor along the Aliso Creek Hiking Trail. (Photo courtesy of the Orange County Sheriff’s Department)

Officials declined to specify the exact molestation incident Lopez had been linked to, but said it was one involving minors that had taken place along the trail, Orange County Sheriff’s Sgt. Joses Walehwa said.

A 12-year-old girl told deputies she had been groped while on her way to school on Thursday, Sept. 12, and a 16-year-old girl reported that a man pulled on her skirt while she was walking home on Tuesday, Sept. 17. Those victims provided two suspect descriptions to deputies, who released a pair of sketches based on their reports.

The alleged molestations, as well as two attempted kidnappings at nearby Sheep Hills Park, remained under investigation Wednesday evening, Walehwa said. Authorities declined to say if they were searching for additional suspects.

A 28-year-old woman and an 11-year-old girl escaped from men who grabbed them while they were walking in the area in two separate incidents on Tuesday, Sept. 24, and Wednesday, Sept. 18, respectively.

“This has been a really big concern in the community, so we are glad for any information we get from residents” OCSD spokeswoman Carrie Braun said. “We want to remind people to stay vigilant and practice personal safety measures.”

Authorities encouraged anyone with information regarding any of the crimes recently reported near the Aliso Creek Hiking Trail to contact deputies at 714-647-7000. Anonymous tips can also be left with Orange County Crime Stoppers by dialing 855-TIP-OCCS (847-6227) or visiting www.occrimestoppers.org.

  • Young joggers head into a tunnel under Via Lomas near Sheep Hills Park in Aliso Viejo on Tuesday, Sept. 24, 2019. The Orange County Sheriff’s Department reported two kidnapping attempts near Sheep Hills Park and the Aliso Creek Hiking Trail, days after deputies released two sketches of suspects who allegedly groped minors not far away. (Photo by Kevin Sullivan, Orange County Register/SCNG)

  • The Orange County Sheriff’s Department reported two kidnapping attempts near Sheep Hills Park and the Aliso Creek Hiking Trail, days after deputies released two sketches of suspects who allegedly groped minors not far away. Sheep Hills Park in Aliso Viejo on Tuesday, Sept. 24, 2019. (Photo by Kevin Sullivan, Orange County Register/SCNG)

  • Sound
    The gallery will resume inseconds

  • Bikers under an overpass on Moulton Parkway near Sheep Hills Park in Aliso Viejo on Tuesday, Sept. 24, 2019. The Orange County Sheriff’s Department reported two kidnapping attempts near the park, days after deputies released two sketches of suspects who allegedly groped minors not far away. (Photo by Kevin Sullivan, Orange County Register/SCNG)

  • A young jogger heads into a tunnel under Via Lomas near Sheep Hills Park in Aliso Viejo on Tuesday, Sept. 24, 2019. The Orange County Sheriff’s Department reported two kidnapping attempts near Sheep Hills Park and the Aliso Creek Hiking Trail, days after deputies released two sketches of suspects who allegedly groped minors not far away. (Photo by Kevin Sullivan, Orange County Register/SCNG)

  • An 11-year-old girl who escaped an alleged kidnapping attempt along the Aliso Creek Hiking Trail in Laguna Hills on Wednesday, Sept. 18, described the man depicted in this drawing as a suspect. She told investigators he had short dark hair and wore a red Angels sweatshirt, blue jeans and black shoes. (Drawing courtesy of the Orange County Sheriff’s Department)

  • Orange County Sheriff’s officials released sketches of a suspect or suspects believed to have inappropriately touched minors in Aliso Viejo and Laguna Hills on Thursday, Sept. 12 and Tuesday, Sept. 17 (Photo courtesy of the Orange County Sheriff’s Department).

  • Orange County Sheriff’s deputies arrested Christoper Lopez, 30, of Aliso Viejo Wednesday, Sept. 25, on suspicion of molesting a minor along the Aliso Creek Hiking Trail. (Photo courtesy of the Orange County Sheriff’s Department)

of

Expand