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Teen Says She Was Sexually Assaulted At Wet 'N Wild

Posted: 4:35 pm EDT June 22, 2009Updated: 6:43 am EDT June 23, 2009

A 14-year-old girl says she was sexually assaulted in the wave pool at Wet 'n Wild just after midnight Sunday and, so far, police don't know who did it.

Detectives are looking through surveillance video to try and identify the person who molested the 14-year-old girl. Officers are hoping people who left the park during all the commotion will come forward with new information.


POLICE REPORT: Read Details About Wet 'N Wild Attack

Hundreds of teenagers packed Wet 'n Wild on Saturday night for the 10th Annual Fiesta at San Juan. It was supposed to be a night celebrating Latin culture, but a 14-year-old girl was sexually battered while she was being tossed around in the wave pool.

The park already had extra security in place the night it happened. Park officials hired the Orlando Police Department gang unit to work that night, because officials expected a large crowd of teenagers.

"There was a big commotion. Everyone was standing around and crying and wondering what was going on. It was pretty bad and pretty intense," eyewitness Rico Gonzales said.

Gonzalez was at the park when police rushed over to the 14-year-old girl. Police say a group of boys were picking up other teenage girls and then tossing them over head. The 14-year-old girl told authorities, while this was happening, someone tried to take off her top and then someone else molested her.

According to the police report, the girl told investigators "her bikini top was unfastened and she had to grab her breast area to keep her bikini top from coming off."

"If you're throwing people around like that, there is a vulnerability when you've got a pervert and someone who does not have any respect for a young lady," said Sgt. Barb Jones, Orlando Police Department.

The girl tried to get away and started to swing her arms. She was able to punch the suspect in the face and got away.

Orlando officers who were working at the park that night have interviewed several witnesses, but so far they haven't been able to positively identify a suspect, but believe he's probably a teenager.

"I was scared. I was scared for my safety. I wanted to leave as soon as possible," eyewitness Rebecca Dumas said.

The victim told police she believed the suspect to be a dark-skinned Hispanic male with a medium build and long, dark hair and said she would be able to identify the suspect.
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