(KRON) – A suspect arrested in connection with the alleged assault of a female high school student has been charged with a hate crime, the Fairfield Police Department said Thursday. According to police, the minor victim was on her way to school on Wednesday morning when the assault occurred.
Staff at Fairfield High School were alerted that a student had been assaulted by a man and a Student Resource Officer was dispatched to assist the victim. Police said the student was taken to the hospital for a medical evaluation.
In an initial investigation, officers learned that the student was walking near the 300 block of Dahlia Street when she was approached by a suspect, later identified as 37-year-old Victor Vieira Chavez of Fairfield. Police said Chavin confronted the victim with “vulgar and race-based language” before physically assaulting her, due to her immigration status.
A resident who witnessed the assault helped the victim and took her to Fairfield High School, where staff called police. Fairfield PD launched a hate crimes investigation and attempted to contact Chavez at his residence that day.
Initial attempts were unsuccessful, but members of the Youth Services Unit conducted surveillance near his home the following morning to ensure the safety of the community. Officers observed Chavez leaving his home and arrested him.
He was arrested and booked into the Solano County Jail on charges that included:
- It exceeds
- Exposing the child to danger
- Hate crime