A 14-year-old girl gave patrol officers a silent signal for help. Police say other minors reported sexual abuse and said alcohol had been offered to them.
São Paulo police arrested a man after a 14-year-old girl used a silent hand signal to ask a patrol for help. State police said the arrest took place on the evening of October 7 in Jaguara, in the city’s northwest.
Police said they had increased patrols after reports of a man on a bicycle approaching children and teenagers in a local square. Officers stopped when they saw the girl’s signal and went to the group. She pointed to the suspect, who was detained as he was about to leave.
Police said other children and teenagers reported that the man had approached them and committed sexual abuse over several weeks. They also said he offered alcohol to minors. CNN Brasil reported that one teenager said she had been forced to have sex. The minors have not been identified.
The man was taken to the 33rd Police District. Police said the case was registered under charges involving rape and rape of a vulnerable person. Officers found a bottle of alcohol and a small amount of marijuana, which the man said was for personal use, according to the police account. Police said he remained in custody.