Police arrest gardener they say committed sexual battery against several clients in Long Beach
Norwalk resident Meliton Santoyo Jaramillo, 38, is accused of committing at least three sexual batteries since August 2023, and police say there may be more victims.
Long Beach police said Wednesday that they’ve arrested a 38-year-old Norwalk man on suspicion of committing sexual battery against three different women who hired him to work as a gardener in East Long Beach, according to a news release.
Two of the three incidents happened around August 2023, when Meliton Santoyo Jaramillo is alleged to have sexually battered two elderly women in the area of Bellflower Boulevard and Wardlow Road, the Long Beach Police Department’s news release said.
Jaramillo was again hired to do gardening work in the area of Bellflower Boulevard and Wardlow Road on Feb. 22 and allegedly battered a third woman, according to police.
The release did not specify exactly what Jaramillo did to the victims, but sexual battery typically involves touching someone’s “intimate part” without their consent and with sexual intent, according to state law.
Authorities launched an investigation into the alleged batteries, eventually identifying Jaramillo as a suspect, police said. They presented the case to the Long Beach City Prosecutor’s office, which issued an arrest warrant for Jaramillo.
On Monday, authorities located the 38-year-old in La Mirada and took him into custody on suspicion of multiple sexual batteries, police said. No bail was set.
Meanwhile, police believe there may be additional victims and asked anyone with more information to contact detectives at 562-570-7354.
