Crime & Safety
Hermosa Beach Boy Recants Claim He Was Sexually Assaulted in Bathroom
A similar claim in Manhattan Beach, however remains an active and open case.
A boy who claimed he was sexually assaulted in a Hermosa Beach park last week has recanted his story, Hermosa Beach police officials said.
On Wednesday, a 13-year-old boy told police a man in his 30s physically overpowered him and assaulted him in a restroom at Valley Park, 2521 Valley Drive.
Accordingly, the Hermosa Beach Police Department put out a press release.
Two days later, a boy in Manhattan Beach made a similar report. Hermosa Beach officials say that incident is completely separate from the boy who has now recanted his story.
"This new development in the Hermosa Beach case has no bearing on the Manhattan Beach sexual assault investigation from Polliwog Park, which is still open and active," wrote Sgt. Robert Higgins in the HBPD press release.
As for the Hermosa Beach boy's motivation for fabricating the sexual assault claim, that's still under investigation, said Higgins, adding that because of the boy's age, there will be no further information released to the public about this case.
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