UPDATE: Arrest Made in the Case of a 6-Year-Old Boy Sexually Assaulted in Public Restroom in Ocean City, MD
UPDATE 08/07/24: Through a coordinated effort between Maryland and Virginia law enforcement agencies, an arrest has been made in the case of a sexual assault of a six-year old boy that happened in a public restroom at a hotel in Ocean City, Maryland on July 31st. On August 2, detectives with the Major Crimes Unit received a tip from a reliable source and then gathered additional evidence to obtain a warrant for the arrest of 33-year-old Antonio Garcia of Millsboro, Delaware. Garcia faces charges of third-degree sex offense, fourth-degree sex offense, second-degree assault, false imprisonment, and indecent exposure. Garcia was successfully located and taken into custody in Villa Heights, Virginia. Garcia is awaiting extradition back to Maryland.
Additional Information on 08/07/24 About This Case from the Ocean City Police Department:
Officers with the Ocean City Police Department responded to a hotel near 117th Street and Coastal Highway about a sexual offense that occurred midafternoon on July 31, 2024. Officers met with a mother who informed them that her six-year-old son was sexually assaulted by an unknown adult male in a publicly accessible bathroom at the hotel. The mother told officers that she could identify the male, and several concerned citizens chased the suspect until they lost sight of him near an alleyway on 116th Street.
A forensic interview of the juvenile was conducted regarding this incident. The juvenile described what occurred during the assault and provided a detailed description of the suspect. The description provided by the juvenile was similar to the male observed on surveillance footage officers collected from nearby businesses. A public assistance social media post was disseminated asking for public assistance in identifying the suspect.
On August 2, 2024, detectives with the Major Crimes Unit received a tip from a reliable source who believed the suspect in this case was Antonio Garcia. Detectives were able to gather additional evidence to identify Garcia as the suspect. Detectives obtained a warrant for Garcia’s arrest for third-degree sex offense, fourth-degree sex offense, second-degree assault, false imprisonment, and indecent exposure.
Detectives had reason to believe that Garcia had fled the Ocean City area. Detectives requested a GPS location ping on Garcia’s phone based on this information. Garcia’s phone pinged in Virginia. Detectives believed Garcia was attempting to evade law enforcement regarding this matter. Through a coordinated effort between the Patrol Division, Criminal Investigation Division: Major Crimes Unit, and the Virginia State Police Division Six, Garcia was successfully located and taken into custody in Villa Heights, Virginia. Garcia is awaiting extradition back to Maryland.
Original Post from 8/1/24:
The Ocean City Police Department is seeking the public’s help in an investigation stemming from an assault that occurred yesterday, July 31st at approximately 3:40 p.m. Officers responded to the area of 117th Street and learned that a man assaulted a 6-year-old boy in a public restroom. After that incident the individual fled the area and was last seen running north in the Ocean City Square Shopping center at 118th Street. The person police are looking for is described as a white man, possibly of middle eastern descent; approximately 35 years of age, heavy set, and a dark in color beard. He was last seen wearing light blue colored shorts, dark shoes, and carrying a white t-shirt.
Photos from the Ocean City Police Department Facebook Page
Additional Information from the Ocean City, MD Police Department:
If you can identify the suspect in the photos, please contact Detective Amy Gutowski at agutowski@oceancitymd.gov or at 410-520-5314. Anonymous tips may be left by calling 410-520-5136 or submitted via https://oceancitymd.gov/oc/departments/police/crime-tips. Please reference case number 2024-003451.
