Police ID man who attempted to sexually assault sunbathing woman


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SANDY — Police announced Wednesday that they identified the man who allegedly attempted to gag and sexually assault a woman at a community pool.

Investigators identified the man as 41-year-old Alex Ernesto Bustamante with the help of tips from the public after surveillance images were published by various media outlets, according to the Sandy Police Department.

“He quit his job and left the apartment complex the day after the news story of the attack went public,” a statement from Sandy police reads. “He made statements he was going to leave the country. His current whereabouts are unknown.”

One count of forcible sexual abuse has been filed against Bustamante by the Salt Lake District Attorney’s Office, police said.

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Investigators said Bustamante was living in the East Town Village Apartments at the time of the incident.

The woman was sunbathing when Bustamante allegedly approached her from behind and covered her mouth with an object in an attempt to gag her at about 3 p.m. on Sept. 25, according to the Sandy Police Department. Sgt. Dean Carriger said it was a planned attack.

“(The man) spent about five to 10 minutes watching the woman as she was laying by the pool. She had headphones in and was listening to music,” he said. “He spent time watching her and then went through the clubhouse, looking as if he was checking to see if anyone was there.

“He looked for objects, picking several things up and putting them down, ultimately grabbing a soft tissue-type object and went out to the pool, approached the woman from behind, put the object over her mouth and started sexually assaulting her, groping her.”

The woman was able to get away from the man after turning over and fighting back, according to investigators. The entire incident was captured by surveillance cameras.

Carriger said Bustamante told a co-worker after the alleged assault that he was going to go to Peru, but it is possible he is still in Utah.

"He just maybe wanted to hope people would not look for him," Carriger said. "It's possible he's still here in Utah or if he did leave, he may return to Utah because he does have family here."

Anyone with information about Bustamante’s current whereabouts can contact the Sandy Police Department at 801-799-3000.

Contributing: Cleon Wall

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