Press Release - Sexual Assault Suspect Arrested

On August 6, 2025, at 2126 hours, an East Palo Alto Police Department patrol officer conducting a patrol check, located a distraught female adult on Newell Road.  The woman reported that she had just been sexually assaulted, while she was walking home, by a male who fled the scene in a sedan.  Officers were able to identify the suspect vehicle using video surveillance and the FLOCK Safely network, which tracked the suspect vehicle to the City of Mountain View.

On August 8, 2025, EPAPD Detectives located the suspect vehicle in the City of Mountain View.  Detectives coordinated with the Mountain View Police Department to contact a male subject who entered the vehicle.  After an interview, probable cause was obtained to arrest the subject for the sexual assault.  The suspect was identified as Steven Torres, 19, a resident of Mountain View, CA.

The investigation showed that the victim and suspect had never met prior to the crime being committed.

Torres was booked into the San Mateo County Jail for sexual battery and assault with the intent to commit felony sex crimes.   

Anyone with information about this case is asked to contact Detective Sergeant Jose Luaorozco of the East Palo Alto Police Department Criminal Investigation Division via email at jluaorozco@cityofepa.org or by phone at 650-853-3160.

For additional information please contact Captain Jaime Jimenez or Sergeant Jose Luaorozco

The East Palo Alto Police Department would like to thank the members of the Mountain View Police Department for their continued partnership and collaborating to take this dangerous suspect into custody.

Prepared by:

Captain Jaime Jimenez