Security officer rescues teen being sexually assaulted
San Jose CA Jan 16 2020
A security officer making a routine patrol of a shopping center spotted something suspicious and acted on what he observed saving a young girl from rape.
“I noticed him in the back with a minor. I noticed the age difference right away. And obviously, I knew there something was wrong.” said security officer Christopher Gomez.
Gomez was on patrol, behind a shopping center on Capitol Expressway in San Jose when he saw 70-year-old Tuan Nguyen get into the backseat of his mini-van, to Gomez, it seemed odd, and his instincts told him to investigate, but even he was surprised to find a young girl the backseat.
“When I asked her what her age was, she said she was 13. I asked, ‘You OK?’ She just gave me a blank stare and she just said, ‘No.” said Gomez.
“I told him you need to step out of the vehicle. He refused. That’s when I drew my weapon and had him step out of the vehicle. He came out.”
The security officer held Nguyen at gunpoint until police arrived, a San Jose Police Department release says.
Gomez is a state-certified security guard, he has handcuffs and is licensed to carry a gun, and after stumbling upon the alleged sexual assault in progress and he wasn’t shy about using them.
Nguyen, who had been hired years earlier by the girl’s parents to drive her home from school, faces charges including kidnapping, false imprisonment and committing lewd acts with a child, police say.
After dropping off other children Monday, Nguyen deviated from his normal route with the 13-year-old girl alone in his vehicle and parked behind an East Capitol Expressway firm, reported police.
Gomez also noted, “She was in shock — definitely in shock. She wasn’t in the right state of mind. After she got out of the vehicle is when she kind of lost it.”
Police asked that anyone with information about the case or similar incidents call the sexual assault investigations unit at 408-277-4102. Anonymous tips may be made to the Crime Stoppers Tip Line at 408-947-7867
