Two men face charges after separate incidents involving alleged attempts to sexually assault teenage girls in grocery store bathrooms shook communities in Phoenix, Arizona, and Whittier, California. The arrests have raised alarms over the safety of minors in seemingly everyday settings.
In a disturbing event at a Safeway located in Phoenix near 40th Street and Chandler Boulevard, 24-year-old Daiveon Ellsberry has been accused of preying on an underage employee. According to AZFamily, Ellsberry allegedly crawled under the bathroom stall where the 16-year-old victim was present, and exposed himself while making loud and angry noises. The teen screamed, pushed the attacker away, and sought refuge among coworkers as Ellsberry fled the scene. Surveillance footage led to his arrest the following day at an extended stay living center.
Ellsberry reportedly admitted to following the victim into the women's restroom and sliding into her stall, but claimed he ceased his actions when the girl resisted, according to details found in court paperwork. Despite acknowledging his awareness of the victim's age, Ellsberry expressed indifference upon learning she was 16. He was apprehended on February 5, a day after the alleged assault.
Meanwhile, a parallel narrative unfolded in a Whittier grocery store where 38-year-old Steven Magdaleno has been charged with a felony count of assault to commit rape and other related offenses. As reported by Hoodline, Magdaleno allegedly forced his way into a restroom after the teenage girl, locking the door, and attempting an assault in broad daylight. Her screams rallied employees and customers to her aid, resulting in the suspect's detention until police arrived.
The Los Angeles District Attorney, George Gascón, conveyed his horror at the events and appreciation for the community's intervention. "Brazen crimes like these are shocking to the entire community because the girl and her family should have felt safe in that space," said Gascón. Both men now face serious legal repercussions as authorities continue their pursuit of justice in the aftermath of these egregious breaches of public safety.
