A man has been arrested by the San Diego Police Department (SDPD) for allegedly sexually assaulting two individuals at a downtown lounge last year, authorities announced Monday. According to the official release by the SDPD, the arrest occurred after the victims reported the assaults which took place on May 27, 2023, at Chef’s SD located at 531 F Street.
The suspect, identified as Geoffrey Enrico Cole, is a 41-year-old former owner of the establishment where the crimes were reported. Cole, described as a Black male around 6’2” tall and weighing approximately 270 pounds, was apprehended on April 1. SDPD officers took Cole into custody on the 1000 block of 5th Avenue in San Diego on charges including felony and misdemeanor sexual assault, and he was subsequently booked into the San Diego County Jail. The arraignment has been set for April 8 at 1:30 p.m. in the San Diego Superior Court downtown, according to the police statement.
San Diego Sexual Crimes Unit spearheaded the investigation shortly after the victims came forward on May 30, 2023. The unit is now reaching out to the public for any additional information regarding this incident or other possible assaults. SDPD encourages anyone with pertinent knowledge, or who believes they may have been a victim of a similar assault, to contact the SDPD Sex Crimes Unit at (619) 531-2210. Anonymous tips can also be provided through Crime Stoppers by calling (888) 580-8477.
The case has garnered public attention given Cole's position as the previous owner of the lounge at the center of the allegations. Community members and potential witnesses play a crucial role in cases like this, and law enforcement's appeal emphasizes their importance in piecing together the events leading to the assault charges. With the arraignment on the horizon, more details of the case are expected to come to light as the judicial process commences next week.
