LOS ANGELES (WSAV) — A man wanted for rape and child molestation was found and arrested in Los Angeles Wednesday after he fled Valdosta, police said.
The Valdosta Police Department (VPD) received a complaint of a sexual assault of a child under the age of 16 on Jan. 3. Detectives found that Manuel Gomez, 52, had been sexually assaulting a juvenile female under the age of 16 over five years, a VPD spokesperson said.
Seven days after the report, detectives obtained arrest warrants for Gomez for rape, aggravated child molestation, sexual battery of a child under 16 years of age and cruelty to children in the first degree.
Detectives received information that Gomez had fled to Los Angeles, Ca. and began working with the Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD), an official said. The LAPD located and arrested Gomez on Feb. 4.
Gomez will be extradited to Valdosta to face criminal charges. Valdosta detectives are also working with federal agencies due to Gomez being an illegal immigrant, the spokesperson said.
“This is a very sad situation and my heart breaks for this child who was victimized for years, by someone she trusted,” Chief Leslie Manahan said. I am so proud of the hard work and dedication of our detectives, who continued to look for Gomez and ensure that he was taken into custody."
If anyone has any further information on this case or any other cases, please contact the Valdosta Police Department Bureau of Investigative Services at 229-293-3145, the crime tip line at 229-293-3091, or file a tip online at www.valdostacity.com/police-department.