Outrage erupts among Long Beach businesses and residents as video surfaces revealing explicit act in downtown area

Residents and business owners in downtown Long Beach are expressing concern over the deteriorating conditions in the area, citing the presence of mentally ill and drug-dependent individuals living on the streets. This comes in response to a recent sexual assault incident and the emergence of a disturbing video showing lewd behavior.

Zoe Garcia, who works in the area, shared her fear for personal safety, stating, “It’s daily, it’s scary. You don’t feel safe walking the streets here.” The specific incident in question occurred when a man exposed and touched himself sexually in broad daylight in front of Salon 500 on East Broadway. Garcia witnessed the incident from her shop and immediately called the police. However, she expressed frustration with the police response time, stating that it took them two hours to arrive, and sometimes they do not respond at all.

Another victim, Rebekah Pederson, was sexually assaulted just last week as she left the same salon. Surveillance footage captured the incident, showing Pederson walking on a sidewalk when the suspect suddenly exposed himself and grabbed her from behind. Pederson fell to the ground as the suspect continued to assault her. Fortunately, an older man nearby intervened and pepper-sprayed the suspect, causing him to flee. Pederson expressed her anger towards the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office for declining to file felony charges in the case, stating that the video clearly showed an attempted rape.

In response to the incident, Long Beach’s City Attorney, Doug Haubert, has charged the suspect with sexual battery and vandalism, both misdemeanors, due to limitations in the city charter. Haubert wrote a letter to the L.A. DA’s Office urging them to reconsider the case and file more serious felony charges. The L.A. DA’s Office confirmed receiving Haubert’s letter and stated that they would review the evidence and interview a witness who was located after their initial decision was made.

The suspect, Miguel Avila, remains in jail on a $75,000 bond and is scheduled to appear in court on November 8. However, it is unclear when the L.A. DA will conduct its second review of the case. Meanwhile, the police are actively searching for the suspect involved in the recent lewd incident.

The deteriorating conditions in downtown Long Beach and the concerns raised by residents and business owners highlight the need for action to address the presence of mentally ill and drug-dependent individuals living on the streets. The community is calling for improved safety measures and a more prompt and effective response from law enforcement agencies to ensure the well-being of individuals in the area.