A known sex offender was arrested in Bat Yam on suspicion of having behaved inappropriately toward, and possibly having assaulted, a 14-year-old girl, according to a Tuesday joint statement from the Israel Police and the Israel Prison Service.
The suspect, a Bat Yam resident in his 30s, is already under surveillance by the IPS "Tzur" unit, which was established specifically to protect the public from known sexual offenders through surveillance both in person and online, as well as spot searches and drug testing. Notably, members of the IPS "Tzur" unit are empowered to arrest sex offenders, despite not being police officers.
The man has been recently arrested by the "Tzur" unit three times for violating the terms of his freedom under supervision and contacting minors.
Most recently, he was arrested after the 14-year-old girl filed a report at the Bat Yam police station, saying that the suspect approached her at the beach, issued "indecent proposals," and assaulted her.
Supermarket employee assaults 14-year-old girl with disability
In late January, a 48-year-old resident of Tel Aviv was arrested on suspicion of sexually assaulting a 14-year-old girl with a physical disability.
According to the indictment filed by the Tel Aviv District Attorney's Office in early February, the suspect was working at the supermarket entrance and followed her inside, offering to help her with her groceries.
Later, still in the store, he touched and kissed the minor without her consent and exposed himself to her. He only ceased his actions when another person approached.