Man assaults high school girl over her perceived immigration status, CA cops say
A high school student walking to school was assaulted by a man accused of accosting her because of her perceived immigration status, California police say.
Through an investigation, officers learned the student was a little more than half a mile from Fairfield High School the morning of Wednesday, Oct. 22, when a man approached, the Fairfield Police Department said in a Facebook post.
The man “confronted the student with vulgar, race-based language before physically assaulting her, reportedly due to her perceived immigration status,” police said.
A neighbor saw the assault and “helped the student” before taking her to Fairfield High School, officers said.
The school’s resource officers rushed to help the girl, who was taken to a hospital, according to police
School staff contacted police, who started an investigation into the alleged hate crime , officers said.
Police said they tried to speak with the man at his home multiple times throughout the day; however, they were unsuccessful.
As officers surveyed the man’s house the following morning, they saw him leave his home and detained him for questioning, police said.
Officers arrested the 37-year-old Fairfield man and booked him into jail on felony counts of assault, child endangerment and hate crime, according to police.
McClatchy News is not naming the man as he has not been formally charged.
In a letter sent to parents following the incident, the Fairfield-Suisun Unified School District said “the safety and security of our students is a top priority.”
“Together with the Fairfield Police Department, we are committed to maintaining a safe and supportive environment for our entire school community,” the district said.
Police echoed the sentiment.
“The Fairfield Police Department has zero tolerance for violence against our community and takes all allegations of hate crimes extremely seriously,” the department said.
The man is being held on $66,667 bail and is scheduled to appear in court Monday, Oct. 27, jail records show.
McClatchy News reached out to the Solano County District Attorney’s Office and is awaiting a response on formal charges.
Fairfield is about a 40-mile drive southwest from Sacramento.
Walking safely to school
To ensure safe walks to school, police said students should “walk with friends or in groups.”
“There’s safety in numbers,” police said. “Try to walk with classmates whenever possible.”
Students should also stay alert by avoiding distractions, including cellphone and headphones, police said, adding that students should also stick to familiar routes and note safe spots along those routes.
“If something doesn’t feel right, leave the area and go to a safe place, such as a school, store, or friend’s house,” police said.
Students should not talk to strangers and decline any “rides, gifts, or help from anyone you don’t know, even if they seem friendly,” according to police.
If a stranger approaches or follows a student, the student should “run to safety and tell a trusted adult immediately,” police said, adding to “call 911 if you feel unsafe.”
This story was originally published October 24, 2025 at 2:04 PM with the headline "Man assaults high school girl over her perceived immigration status, CA cops say."
