Full Notification

SUBJECT: Adult male arrested for trying to meet a minor for sexual purposes
 
LOCATION: Mathnasium, 1073 El Camino Real, Redwood City
 
DATE/TIME: November 22^nd, 2023
                                               
Media Information: On November 20^th, 2023, the suspect, Redwood City resident Pouya Asrar (a 37 year old male adult), initiated a text based chat conversation with the confidential victim, a 17 year old female juvenile.  The two initially met in person as co-workers at the math tutoring center “Mathnasium” located in Sequoia Station, Redwood City.  The confidential victim informed the suspect of her age to which the suspect acknowledged and continued to message her anyway.  The messages became lewd and sexual in nature.
 
RCPD Detectives were able to get the suspect to come to a location where he thought he was going to meet with the confidential victim to have sexual relations. Instead, he was promptly arrested. A search of his person yielded condoms. Detectives conducted a search of the suspect’s residence to seize items of evidence.
 
 Asrar was booked into the San Mateo County Jail for two felonies:
 
California Penal Code 288.3 Communicating with a minor with the intent to commit a sex crime
 
California Penal Code 288.4 Arranging to meet with a minor to try to engage in sexual activity.
 
What made this a successful case was the fact that the victim quickly reached out to authorities and fully cooperated with the investigation. In the coming days RCPD Detectives will be conducting further investigation to determine if there are any additional victims. Without the victim’s assistance, we wouldn’t have known that this predator was in our city. This is a great example of a young person stepping up and doing the right thing.
 
If anyone has any information regarding this case, please call the Redwood City Police Department at 650-780-7100.
 
For tips regarding any Redwood City cases please call the Tip Line at 650-780-7110
 
This press release is approved for distribution by the Investigations Division Commander, Lieutenant Nick Perna