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WEST VALLEY CITY -- West Valley police arrested a man Thursday night who they believe forced a 7-year-old boy into a bathroom stall and assaulted him at a fast-food restaurant.
Detectives say they received several tips from viewers who saw the man's picture while watching local newscasts Thursday evening. The viewers identified the man as 44-year-old Jorege D. Gutierrez.
Officers were able to quickly track down Gutierrez and arrested him on charges of child kidnap and child sodomy.
Police say, on Aug. 15, a 7-year-old boy was at the Burger King restaurant at 5610 W. 3500 South in West Valley City. While his mother ordered the food, the boy went to the bathroom. That's when police say Gutierrez forced him into a stall and sexually assaulted him.
"It was a fairly brutal assault," said West Valley police Capt. Tom McLachlan.
The assault lasted several minutes, and police say Gutierrez then left and walked past the boy's mother as she went to check on her son. His image was caught on tape at a nearby store moments after the alleged assault.
"We feel that he was leaving the scene at the time, going, using that grocery store as an exit to get him out of public view," McLachlan said.
The investigation took some time because detectives had to review surveillance video from all the businesses near the Burger King. They are now waiting for results of physical evidence, which is being tested at a lab.
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Story compiled with contributions from Mark Giauque and Sandra Yi
