San Jose Resident Arrested in Milpitas Assault Case

A Milpitas sexual-assault investigation turned into a wider public appeal this week. Police say a 45-year-old San Jose man, Tai To, was arrested on April 30 after two women reported being sexually assaulted during prior interactions with him in Milpitas. One of those reports came from a tattoo appointment, which is the detail that makes this case especially unsettling. And the reason police went public is simple — they think there could be more people who have not reported what happened yet. (mercurynews.com) ### Who was arrested? Police identified the suspect as Tai To, 45, of San Jose. Detectives arrested him in San Jose on April 30, and he was then booked into the Santa Clara County Main Jail on suspicion of felony sexual assault. The public announcement came several days later, on May 5 and May 6, as local outlets picked up the case and police broadened their request for information. (cbsnews.com) ### What do police say happened? The investigation started in March 2026, when a woman contacted Milpitas police to report a prior sexual assault. Detectives say that report led them to conclude To had sexually assaulted her during a tattoo appointment at a Milpitas location. As they kept digging, they say they found a second woman who was also alle(cbsnews.com) circumstances of that second allegation. (mercurynews.com) ### Why does the tattoo detail matter? Because it points to a setting where people are expected to be physically vulnerable and to trust the person working on them. A tattoo appointment is close-contact by definition — long sessions, privacy, and a power imbalance if the artist controls the space. That does not prove anything (mercurynews.com)rence lines up with police asking for people connected to the business or prior appointments to contact them. (nbcbayarea.com) ### Are police looking for more victims? Yes. That is the big reason this became a public-facing case. Milpitas police said detectives believe there may be additional victims and asked anyone with information to reach out. They are also looking for practical evidence — appointment records, photos, or other documentation tied to visits to the tattoo business. Basically, they are trying to map who had contact with the suspect and when. (aol.com) ### What do we still not know? A lot. Police have not publicly named the tattoo business, said how long the alleged conduct may have been happening, or listed formal court charges beyond the booking on suspicion of felony sexual assault. They also have not said whether the two women knew each other, whether the alleged assaults happened at the same location, or whether pro(aol.com)irmed development. (ktvu.com) ### Why go public before everything is resolved? Because cases like this often depend on pattern evidence and on people realizing they were not the only one. Someone may have brushed off an encounter, felt unsure about reporting, or assumed there was not enough proof. A public arrest announcement can change that. It tells possible victims and witnesses that detectives are actively building a case and want corroboration now, not months later. (mercurynews.com) ### How common is this move from police? Pretty common when investigators think a suspect may have had repeated access to potential victims through work. Milpitas police already publish crime and arrest data and use public notices when they need community help, but this kind of request is more targeted — they want anyone with (mercurynews.com)nvestigation, not a closed two-victim case. (milpitas.gov) ### Bottom line? The news here is not just that a San Jose man was arrested. It is that Milpitas police believe the case may extend beyond the two women already identified. That makes the next phase less about the arrest itself and more about who else, if anyone, now decides to come forward. (mercurynews.com)