In a distressing account of events, Palo Alto Police have arrested 30-year-old Joshua Keenan Brass for a string of serious crimes, including theft and assault against two young children. The startling incident took place on the 100 block of Hamilton Avenue yesterday, as confirmed by a news release from the Palo Alto Police Department.

According to the report, at roughly 12:45 a.m., the children's mother realized a man, later identified as Brass, was inside her vehicle, wherein he engaged in lewd acts and brandished a knife. She had left the children, ages 7 and 11 months, inside the parked car while she entered a nearby business to meet her boyfriend. Upon her return, she was confronted with the disturbing scene involving her underage son and the intruder, prompting her to seek help. The suspect fled with her boyfriend's wallet containing cash after a confrontation with the couple.

The police were alerted and soon after launched a search, but Brass initially evaded capture. In the early hours, at approximately 4:00 a.m., near the intersection of Emerson Street and Lytton Avenue, officers could detain Brass without incident. The children sustained injuries, with the infant suffering minor facial wounds, but further medical attention was declined by the mother.

Brass, hailing from East Palo Alto, faces a litany of felony charges. He's been booked for lewd acts on a minor, assault with a deadly weapon, child endangerment, and kidnapping with intent to commit a sex act, among other offenses. The Palo Alto Police shared his booking photo in the press release and urged anyone with more information about this incident to contact their 24-hour dispatch center.