Man gropes three young girls at Orcutt Dollar Tree and is arrested

23 September 2024

By KAREN VELIE

Last week, officials arrested a Santa Maria man who allegedly grabbed the buttocks of three young girls at the Orcutt Dollar Tree in August and September.

On August 21, a caller reported that a man grabbed a 6-year-old girl's buttocks at the Dollar Tree store at 4869 S. Bradley Road in Orcutt. The suspect fled before officers arrived.

On September 13, a second and third report was received of a man abducting young girls, a nine-year-old and a seven-year-old. In both cases, the man fled before officers arrived.

During their investigation, detectives identified the suspect as 20-year-old Angel Gabriel LopezRojas of Santa Maria. Officers arrested LopezRojas on September 19 and booked him into the Northern Branch Jail for lewd and lascivious acts with a minor under the age of 14 and child molestation.

The Santa Barbara County Sheriff's Office is asking anyone with knowledge of additional crimes involving LopezRojas to contact Detective Brownlee at (805) 681-4150.