Girl groped at Mt. Tabor Park; Man, 32, arrested

PORTLAND, Ore. ( KOIN ) — A man has been arrested after allegedly sexually assaulting a preteen girl while she was walking with her mother in Mt. Tabor Park.

Court documents say police responded to the alleged assault on Aug. 16, when witnesses called 911 after the 12-year-old girl’s mother called out for help, reportedly yelling, “He touched my daughter.”

The mother then began pursuing the man in question, later identified as 32-year-old Fernando Garces.

The documents further allege that Garces proceeded to mock the girl’s mother after she pulled out her phone to record him, stating “You’re just trying to be famous.”

When the mother reportedly shouted back at Garces to stop touching children, he responded, “I was touched every day.”

A short while later, Garces sprinted out of the park, followed by multiple witnesses. He was then arrested responding officers.

When police conducted a follow-up interview with the mother and daughter the day after the incident, the daughter claimed that Garces had come out of nowhere and “lunged” at her, mumbling incoherently.

He then allegedly grabbed the girl’s arm with one hand and groped her over her running shorts with the other. When he tried to pull her towards him, she managed to break free.

Garces is currently facing a charge of first-degree sexual abuse and remains in custody.

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