Police arrested a man early Friday morning after he entered a parked vehicle, stole a wallet, and committed crimes against two children.
On Friday, September 13, 2024, at about 12:45 a.m., our 24-hour dispatch center received a call from a woman reporting that she had just discovered a knife-wielding man exposing himself to her two children inside of her parked vehicle on the 100 block of Hamilton Avenue. The mother stated that, upon being confronted, the man had fled south on Alma Street. Officers immediately responded to the area but did not initially locate the suspect.
The investigation revealed that, at about 12:35 a.m., the mother had left her two children (ages 7 years, and 11 months, respectively) inside of her parked vehicle on the 100 block of Hamilton Avenue when she briefly went into a nearby business where her boyfriend was cleaning. The mother told police that, when she returned about 10 minutes later, she observed an unfamiliar man seated in the driver seat of her vehicle. According to the mother, the suspect was touching his exposed penis while holding a knife against her 7- year-old son. The mother ran inside to get help and, when she returned with her boyfriend, they startled the suspect, who exited the vehicle and fled on foot. After briefly giving chase, the mother called police.
Investigators learned that, while in the vehicle with the two children, the suspect had sexually battered the 7-year-old victim, and struck the infant victim in the face after removing the child from a car seat. The mother also later discovered that her boyfriend’s wallet containing cash was missing from the center console of the vehicle.
At about 4:00 a.m. officers located the suspect near the intersection of Emerson Street and Lytton Avenue and he was detained without incident.
The infant victim sustained minor injuries to his face and the parent declined further medical attention.
Police booked 30-year-old Joshua Keenan Brass of East Palo Alto into the Santa Clara County Main Jail for committing a lewd act on a minor, assault with a deadly weapon, child endangerment, assault with intent to commit a sex act, and kidnapping with intent to commit a sex act (all felonies). His booking photo can be viewed here: https://www.cityofpaloalto.org/News-Articles/Police-Department/Police-Arrest-Man-for-Theft-Crimes-Against-Children
Anyone with information about this incident is asked to call our 24-hour dispatch center at (650) 329-2413. Anonymous tips can be e-mailed to [email protected] or sent via text message or voice mail to (650) 383-8984.
To read this release on the city's website click here:
https://www.cityofpaloalto.org/News-Articles/Police-Department/Police-Arrest-Man-for-Theft-Crimes-Against-Children
