Man arrested for allegedly following and inappropriately touching girls after they got off the bus

Man Arrested for Following and Inappropriately Touching Girls in Long Beach

Hours after asking for help finding him, police arrested a man accused of twice following girls off the bus in Long Beach and touching them inappropriately.

Police said the man sexually battered the first girl around 10:15 a.m. Thursday near Carson Street and Atlantic Avenue. She was on a bus when the man approached her, and when she left the bus, he "proceeded to sexually batter" her after a brief exchange, police said in a news release.

About 40 minutes later, another girl was on a bus near Artesia Boulevard and Atlantic Avenue when the same man approached her, police said. When she also got off the bus, "the suspect followed her" and "proceeded to sexually batter" her, police said.

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Police identified the suspect as George Marquez, a 21-year-old homeless man. Officers booked him into Long Beach Jail on suspicion of attempted rape, penetration with a foreign object, and two warrants for terrorizing causing fear and battery.

Police said his bail was set at $242,000.

Editor's note: This story was updated with information about Marquez being arrested.

What do you think?

• Should there be stricter penalties for individuals who commit crimes against minors?
• What steps can communities take to prevent such incidents from happening in the future?
• Do you think homelessness plays a role in criminal behavior, or is it a separate issue that needs to be addressed differently?