A report of trespassers at a vacant Barstow property led to the arrest of a 51-year-old man on suspicion of molesting a 15-year-old-old girl on Monday, Sept. 22, police said.
A witnesses called police just before noon to report seeing two people jumping a fence into the backyard of a vacant property in the 600 block of Sunset Court, across the street from Montara Park, Barstow Police Department officials said.
Responding officers encountered a 51-year-old Ellis Jordale Cooper of Barstow man and a 15-year-old Barstow girl, according to police and San Bernardino County booking records.
“During the contact, officers learned that the female juvenile and Cooper had an ongoing sexual relationship,” the agency said in a written statement. “Officer contacted the Department of Children and Family Services and released the juvenile to her family.”
Cooper was arrested on suspicion of child molestation, records show. Bail was set at $50,000 pending legal proceedings.
Anyone with information was asked to contact Barstow police Officer Jason Perry at (760) 256-2211, or by email at jperry@barstowca.org. Tips may also be submitted anonymously to the We-Tip hotline at (800) 782-7463.
This article originally appeared on Victorville Daily Press: Man arrested on suspicion of child molestation in Barstow
Reporting by Brian Day, Victorville Daily Press / Victorville Daily Press
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
