Tuopeh Indictment in rape of 8 year old
As most of the country and certain parts of the world now know, on Thursday, July 16, 2009, at approximately 5:15 p.m., an 8-year-old girl was lured into a vacant storage shed by suspects offering her some chewing gum. The girl was restrained while four of the male children, ages 9, 10, 13, and 14 sexually assaulted her. Phoenix police officers responded to an emergency radio call of an "unknown trouble” with a young girl screaming hysterically as she ran out of a storage shed partially clothed.
Several young males were seen running from the area and one suspect was caught by officers. The subsequent investigation revealed the identities of all suspects and multiple witnesses to include additional children who associate with the group in the complex. On July 21, 2009, all four suspects were arrested by Phoenix Police officers from Maryvale Precinct and case detectives without incident while they were at home.
Patrol officers assisted Child Protective Services with removing the victim from the custody of her parents. All suspects were interviewed and admitted planning and involvement in the sexual assault. In addition to suspect and witness statements, physical and medical evidence combined to develop probable cause for the arrests and detention of three suspects at the Juvenile Corrections Center; the fourth suspect, Steven Tuopeh, 14, was remanded to adult court.
The investigative process for this offense against and involving children includes a number of steps and partnerships specific to child crimes. These include: forensic interviews by investigators certified to interview children; the participation of the national organization Child Help, with whom Phoenix Police Family Investigators share a facility specifically designed to address child crimes and assist with medical care, evaluation, and follow up done by doctors from St. Joseph's Hospital; the involvement from the start of the Maricopa County Attorney"s Office Juvenile Crimes Division; and the immediate notification of Arizona Child Protective Services.
Phoenix Public Safety Manager Jack Harris, investigators, patrol officers, and other Phoenix Police staff met with family members, Liberian refugee community leaders, members of the faith based community, and others on July 30 to have an open dialogue on the issues. There were a number of questions, comments, and excellent communication. On July 31, after some exchange of discussion, Public Safety Manager Harris extended an invitation to the Liberian Ambassador to the United States to visit Phoenix. The Ambassador from the Republic of Liberia responded that there would be a visit from his nation to Phoenix. The details are still being worked out.
On August 1, the Maricopa County Attorney’s Office announced that Steven Tuopeh had been indicted on charges related to the incident.