Santa Clarita Valley Sheriff’s Station officials have arrested a man they believed to be responsible for a sexual assault reported inside the Whole Foods Market in Valencia last month.
Using security footage and testimony from the victim and witnesses, a detective identified Jared Paul Estrada, 28, of Valencia, as the suspect in the alleged March 23 assault, according to a search warrant a detective sought April 1 for Estrada’s car and home.
An arrest warrant was obtained based on evidence presented by SCV Sheriff’s Station officials, and Estrada was arrested in Orange County on Monday, according to a source familiar with the investigation.
“On March 23, 2026, at approximately (7:53 p.m.), the suspect (later identified as … Estrada) committed an indecent exposure and a sexual battery upon the victim while she was
shopping at ‘Whole Foods,’” according to the detective’s statement of probable cause.
The detective’s statement included the story the victim shared with The Signal in the days following the incident.
“The suspect followed her throughout various aisles of the store. While the victim was crouching down in an aisle deciding which product to buy, the suspect stood over her at proximity with his exposed penis out of his pants,” according to the detective’s report. “The suspect had his cell phone in one hand and he appeared to be recording himself placing his penis near the victim’s face as seen on store surveillance footage and per the victim’s statement.”
The victim later told The Signal that she was initially in shock, but later processed what had happened as she spoke to store officials and a deputy, recalling that she felt the suspect against her ear.
In response to the deputy’s initial report, a detective put out a Nixle alert with a screenshot of the man’s face, which was obtained from Whole Foods’ store officials.
The community responded en masse, according to the detective’s statement.
“Several members of the public called in stating they recognized the suspect from the flier as ‘Jared Estrada,’” wrote Detective Roxanne Hatami, who’s in charge of the case. “Several citizens provided his date of birth, phone number, vehicle information … and general information as to where he lived,” identifying his residence as near a local elementary school.
The victim also told The Signal last month that she shared Estrada’s name with detectives, which was posted on social media in response to her post about the allegations from inside Whole Foods.
Then detectives received a call from an employee of a local bar who recognized Estrada from the evening of the alleged assault, and shared footage with detectives that showed Estrada appearing to wear the same thing he wore hours earlier during the alleged incident. Estrada’s credit card receipts from that evening helped detectives confirm his identity, according to the search warrant.
