ANAHEIM, Calif. () — A man is behind bars after police say he attacked a mother and her teenage daughter in public in Anaheim, threatening to sexually assault them.
Jose Gudino, 59, has been charged with two felony counts of kidnapping with intent to commit rape, according to the Anaheim Police Department. The agency says he was homeless and has no prior history of violent attacks.
The incident happened Tuesday afternoon near Lincoln Avenue and East Street, according to police.
A mother and daughter, who asked to remain anonymous, were walking home from a bus stop. They said they began to notice that a man was following them.
Surveillance camera footage eerily shows the man emerging as the women cross the street and he follows behind them. Moments later, police say he attacked them.
“We were screaming for help,” said the 14-year-old daughter. “I felt like that was going to be my last day here and I was just so traumatized.”
The mother and daughter said Gudino tried grabbing them from the sidewalk, first going after the teenage girl. He demanded they go with him to an area behind nearby trees where he threatened to assault them.
“A bag of my pills fell. When I tried to pick it up, he hit me with a bag in his hand and I fell on the street,” the mother said.
The mother was hurt, but she and her daughter fought back – even managing to record video of the suspect.
“She was very brave, she also protected me, the two of us united, thanks to the mercy of God,” the mother said.
A good Samaritan stopped and they jumped into her car. They consider her to be their angel.
When they got home, they called 911 and police say within two hours, they found Gudino and arrested him.
“It’s an isolated incident. It doesn’t happen often in the city of Anaheim. And that’s exactly why we made it a priority to immediately apprehend this suspect,” said Officer Breana Castro, a public information officer with Anaheim PD.
Anaheim police say they want to speak with that good Samaritan.
“We are also very thankful for her input in helping this mother daughter duo. And we would love to get her statement. It would be critical in the case against this suspect,” Castro said.
The family is working on recovering, both physically and emotionally. The mother has scratches across her legs and hands. They hope their story serves as a warning to other women in their community.
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