Full Notification

REDWOOD CITY, Calif. – Investigations by the Redwood City Police Department and the San Mateo County Sheriff’s Office linked a suspect to two residential burglaries and sexual assault cases along the peninsula.
 
During the early morning hours of July 5, 2026, Redwood City Police officers responded to a suspicious circumstances call in the 400 block of Jackson Avenue. Investigators learned an unknown male suspect unlawfully entered the home while the victims were asleep and sexually assaulted an adult female resident before fleeing the residence.
 
Detectives immediately launched an extensive investigation that included witness interviews, neighborhood canvasses, surveillance video collection, forensic evidence, and numerous investigative leads.
 
On the evening of July 7, 2026, Redwood City detectives located the suspect in the 400 block of Vera Avenue. The suspect was identified as 30-year-old Redwood City resident Jose Manuel Gonzalez Cruz.
 
As the investigation progressed, Redwood City detectives learned Cruz had also been identified as a possible suspect in a San Mateo County Sheriff's Office investigation that occurred on May 10, 2026. In that case, Sheriff's deputies responded to the 1700 block of Walnut Street in San Carlos after an unknown male suspect unlawfully entered the home and sexually assaulted an adult female resident before fleeing the residence.
 
Detectives from the Redwood City Police Department and the San Mateo County Sheriff's Office worked collaboratively, comparing evidence and investigative findings. Their joint investigation ultimately determined Cruz was the suspect in both incidents.
 
On July 8, 2026, Cruz was booked into the Maguire Correctional Facility. On July 10, 2026, the San Mateo County District Attorney's Office filed charges against Cruz stemming from both the Redwood City and San Carlos investigations. The charges include:
 

• Two counts of Penal Code section 220(b) – Assault with Intent to Commit a Sexual Offense During the Commission of a First Degree Burglary
• Penal Code section 664/460(a) – Attempted First Degree Burglary
• Penal Code section 647(i) – Peeking or Prying While Loitering
• Penal Code section 314(1) – Indecent Exposure

 
Anyone with information related to the Redwood City investigation, or who believes they may have had contact with Cruz under similar circumstances, is encouraged to contact the Redwood City Police Department Investigations Bureau at (650) 780-7100. Anyone with information related to the San Carlos investigation is encouraged to contact the San Mateo County Sheriff's Office at (650) 363-4911.