A 39-year-old Rialto man was arrested Sunday on suspicion of groping a mother who was shopping with her small child in Seal Beach, according to a police spokesman.

The alleged sexual battery occurred about 11:20 a.m. at a HomeGoods store at 12343 Seal Beach Blvd., said Seal Beach Police Sgt. Nick Nicholas.

The suspect was identified as Ruben Erick Diaz, Nicholas said.

Ruben Erick Diaz, courtesy Seal Beach police.
Ruben Erick Diaz, courtesy Seal Beach police.

The woman was inside the store shopping when Diaz grabbed her buttocks, police say. At the time of the alleged battery, she had her infant child with her and feared for the child’s safety, Nicholas said.

Diaz was taken into custody without incident and booked for sexual battery and child endangerment, Nicholas said. He was being held in the Orange County jail, according to police.

Anyone with information on this incident was asked to call Seal Beach police Detective Jon Ainley at 562-799-4100, ext. 1113.