Stepfather arrested in Guayaquil after viral video of assault on 9-year-old girl
A man who struck and dragged a girl in Guasmo Sur was captured on 12 September. The Interior Minister confirmed the arrest.
Arrest in Guayaquil following viral video of child abuse
A video that circulated widely on social media on 12 September shows an adult man hitting and dragging a girl of approximately 9 years old across the ground whilst shouting at her, "why are you looking at everyone?" The child cries and screams, and in the background a woman's voice can be heard asking him to stop. According to primicias.ec, several social media accounts indicated that the aggressor was the girl's stepfather and that other people visible in the recording were family members of the child.
Hours after the video went viral, Interior Minister John Reimberg announced on social media that police had arrested the aggressor, who was transferred to a judicial unit for the corresponding proceedings.
The incident occurred on 11 September in Guasmo Sur
Walter Villarroel, commander of Police Zone 8, clarified that the incident took place on 11 September in the Guasmo Sur neighbourhood in Guayaquil. Villarroel confirmed that the man was the partner of the victim's mother, who is also reported to have suffered abuse from the same aggressor. Residents of the area intervened and assaulted the man after witnessing the attack.
Although the authorities have not publicly identified the detainee, they confirmed that, after being confronted by neighbours, he abandoned his home and attempted to take refuge elsewhere. He was captured in the morning hours of 12 September.
Police thanked the neighbours who recorded the incident and shared it, noting that this action made it possible to identify and locate the aggressor. The authorities also explained that there is a protocol to determine whether the child's mother bears any responsibility in the case or whether she is also a victim of the detainee.
Special protection teams deployed to the home
The Vice-Ministry of Human Development reported that it sent specialist technical teams for special protection to the girl's home in Guasmo Sur. The objective is to approach the family environment to assess the situation of the child, provide psychological support and identify the needs of both her and the family currently caring for her.
As investigations by Dinapen proceed, the Vice-Ministry will continue with actions aimed at guaranteeing a safe environment for the girl and monitoring the protection measures ordered by police.
Source: Google News EC — Guayaquil