(KRON) — A suspect who was arrested in connection to 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 female juvenile victim was walking to school on Wednesday morning when the assault occurred.
Staff at Fairfield High School were alerted that a student had been assault by a man and a Student Resource Officer was dispatched to assist the victim. The female student, police said, was transported to the hospital for a medical evaluation.
In a preliminary investigation, officers learned the student had been walking near the 300 block of Dahlia Street when she was approached by a suspect, later identified as 37-year-old Victor Viera Chavez of Fairfield. Chaven, police said, confronted the victim with “vulgar, race-based language,” before physically assaulting her, reportedly over her immigration status.
A resident who witnessed the assault helped the victim and took her to Fairfield High, where staff contacted police. Fairfield PD launched a hate crime 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 house the following morning to ensure community safety. Officers observed Chavez leaving his residence and detained him.
He was arrested and booked into Solano County Jail on charges that included:
- Assault
- Child endangerment
- Hate crime
