Suspect Sexually Assaulted Girl At Movie Theater, Police Say

SONOMA COUNTY, CA — A reward of up to $2,500 is being offered by the Sonoma County Alliance Community Engagement and Safety Rewards Fund for information leading to the identification and arrest of the suspect in a sexual assault last summer at a Santa Rosa movie theater.

The Santa Rosa Police Department said it was made aware of the incident in November 2024. The victim, a teenage girl, was so traumatized that she did not immediately report it, SRPD Sgt. Patricia Seffens said.

The brave victim eventually came forward and told her parents that she was sexually assaulted by a man at Roxy Stadium 14 Theater at 85 Santa Rosa Ave.

The victim was watching an afternoon movie when she went to use the restroom alone and noticed a man was following her toward the lobby area. She told police that in the hallway leading to the auditorium exit door, the man pulled her to the ground and assaulted her.

"Due to the age of the victim and the sensitive nature of her traumatic experience, no additional details about the incident will be made public," Seffens said.

The SRPD Domestic Violence Sexual Assault Team launched an investigation and helped with a forensic interview of the victim. She described the suspect as a short, Hispanic man with an "Edgar" or bowl-cut hairstyle. He wore a gold chain and footwear similar to Nike Air Force One.

The victim worked with a sketch artist, and a drawing of the suspect was produced.

Detectives worked closely with theater management to try to find evidence of the assault; however, there was not enough information to identify the suspect.

There have been no reports of sexual assaults at the theater since this one, Seffens said.

Police asked anyone with information, including anything that may lead to the identification of the suspect, to contact the SRPD DVSA Tipline at 707-543-4040 or online at srcity.org/CrimeTips.