A 21-year-old Redwood City man was arrested in connection with burglaries involving residences containing female victims, including incidents during which victims were inappropriately touched as they were sleeping.
Police investigators believe Cristian Josue CanelSian might be responsible for five separate incidents since January, the majority of which occurred in the 1200 and 1300 blocks of Ebener Street in Redwood City.
Police were initially investigating three similar events. On two of those occasions, the suspect broke into the homes while the female victims were asleep in bed, inappropriately touching one of them. In those cases he fled prior to the arrival of police.
Then on March 19 at about 2:20 a.m., police responded to a residential burglary in progress involving a man who entered the female victim’s residence and inappropriately touched her while she slept, police said.
“When the victim confronted the suspect, he barricaded himself in the bathroom but escaped through an exterior window before police arrival,” police said.
The suspect wasn’t found after a search of the area, but police found surveillance video in the area that assisted in identifying him. The video provided enough information to connect CanelSian to three previous incidents, police said.
CanelSian was arrested at his home on charges including touching a person intimately against their will for sexual arousal; first-degree burglary and disorderly conduct. Search warrants of his residence and his place of work were executed where items were seized.
Police are seeking public assistance in identifying any additional alleged victims of unlawful sexual contact or any other crimes committed by CanelSian.
Those with any information is asked to contact Detective James Schneider at (650) 780-7607. For tips regarding any Redwood City investigation, call the Tip Line at (650) 780-7110.
Photo courtesy of the Redwood City Police Department
