Man, 54, arrested for sexually assaulting a “young girl” in Rotterdam park
Rotterdam police arrested a 54-year-old man in connection with the sexual assault of a girl in the city’s Zuiderpark on August 12. The suspect was taken into custody on Tuesday, and his DNA matched trace evidence collected in the case, police said in a press release on Thursday evening.
The victim in the attack was described as “a young girl” who was wearing a dark sleeveless dress with white unicorns when she was assaulted. She was in the park with her mother, but slipped away from her parent’s view at about 4:30 p.m.
The woman found the girl a few minutes later, who said she was in the shrubbery where a man had touched her, police previously stated. The attack took place among the reeds on Zuiterparkpromenade-West. A large investigative team was brought in to handle the case, eventually tracking down their suspect.
Police confirmed the suspect resides in Rotterdam-Zuid. “The house was searched, and a mobile phone was seized,” police said in an update.
“The suspect remains in custody and is being questioned. He will appear before the examining magistrate on Friday, August 22nd.” During that hearing, he can be remanded to jail for up to 14 more days before a formal arraignment takes place in a district court.
He was previously described as being in his late thirties or older, having a light skin complexion with a black and gray beard and hair, and green-blue eyes.
Authorities still want to speak with people who were in the Zuiderpark between 4 p.m. and 5 p.m that sunny Tuesday afternoon. “Despite this arrest and the news of the DNA match, all tips and images that can help the investigation are still very welcome.”
