Police Seek Mt. Rubidoux Groping Victims

A sexual battery report on the Mt. Rubidoux trail in Riverside has turned into a broader public appeal from police, who say they believe other victims may not have come forward. Riverside police identified the suspect as Toai Pham, 77, of Riverside, and said he was arrested after an investigation into an encounter reported by a female hiker. Detectives say the alleged assault was reported on March 9 at about 8:30 a.m. near the popular trail area. Pham was later booked into the Robert Presley Detention Center and released on $5,000 bail, according to police accounts carried by local outlets. ### What did the hiker report on Mt. Rubidoux? March 9 is the date Riverside police say a reporting party contacted the city’s Public Safety Communications Center to report a sexual battery in the Mt. Rubidoux area. According to police, the woman said a man approached her while she was walking and touched her inappropriately. Mt. Rubidoux is one of Riverside’s best-known public hiking areas, west of downtown and designated by the city as a park and landmark. The city’s parks page describes it as a popular destination, which helps explain why investigators are now asking whether other people may have encountered the same man there. ### Who was arrested? Toai Pham, 77, was identified by Riverside police as the suspect in the case. KTLA and other local reports, citing police, said Pham was arrested after detectives investigated the March complaint. Police said Pham is a Riverside resident and that investigators learned he routinely hikes in the Mt. Rubidoux area. That detail is central to the department’s request for additional information, because detectives say they suspect there may be more victims who have not yet reported similar conduct. ### Why are police asking for more victims to come forward now? Riverside police said the existing investigation led detectives to believe the March 9 report may not have been an isolated incident. A department post summarized by local outlets said investigators suspect there are additional victims. A photo released by police is part of that effort. By publicly identifying Pham and circulating his image, detectives are trying to prompt anyone who may have had contact with him on the trail to contact the department. ### What do police say happened after the arrest? Robert Presley Detention Center is where police said Pham was booked after his arrest. Local reports citing the department said he was later released after posting $5,000 bail. The release on bail means the criminal case, if prosecutors pursue charges, would continue outside custody while detectives keep developing the investigation. Police have not publicly described any additional alleged incidents beyond the March 9 report. ### Who should contact investigators? Officer James Brandt is the detective police have named for tips related to the case. Riverside police said anyone with information, including possible additional victims, should contact him directly. Riverside Police Department contact information published by the city also lists its non-emergency and general lines for public calls. Detectives have framed the appeal narrowly: they want to hear from people who may have encountered the suspect in the Mt. Rubidoux area or who have information tied to the March 9 report. ### What happens next in the case? The next step is continued witness outreach by Riverside police as detectives try to determine whether the reported March 9 assault was part of a broader pattern. Any additional statements from victims or witnesses could shape whether prosecutors file or expand charges. Officer James Brandt remains the named point of contact as of this week, and Riverside police are continuing to seek information from hikers who were in the Mt. Rubidoux area around the time of the reported incident.