Residents of Bell Gardens are on alert this week following a social media post describing an alleged inappropriate incident involving a child at the Ford Park basketball court.
The post, shared by Doris Serrano Rivas in the Facebook group “Bell Gardens Uncensored,” claims that an adult man playing basketball with young boys touched one of the boys inappropriately. According to the post, the boy told his parents about what happened.
Details Remain Limited as Community Calls for Action
As of now, no name or photo of the alleged individual has been publicly shared, and it remains unclear whether a formal police report has been filed. Several commenters expressed frustration that the incident was posted online before being reported to authorities.
Jose Perez wrote, “Please don’t depend on this post reaching BGPD! The call to the police should’ve been made on the spot.”
Gabriel Flores Cedano echoed similar concerns, commenting, “Yes, post about it on Facebook instead of reporting it to the police.”
Others in the group urged the original poster and the affected family to take immediate action.
Luz Irene Martin commented, “BGPD needs to be notified. You can’t depend on this post to reach the appropriate authorities. Parents need to file a report ASAP.”
Shirley Hart simply wrote, “Call the police,” while KindArugula9978 added, “Please notify the police, it could potentially save a child!”
Residents Share Concerns About Park Safety
The post has sparked a broader conversation about safety at Ford Park. Robert Stout referenced the park’s reputation, writing, “This Park has a Horrible history from the 1970s, from kids being given too much freedom.”
Norma Meshew shared a separate account, stating she knew of someone who was not supposed to be around children who was seen sitting in a truck at Ford Park while on parole after serving eight years in prison. It is not clear whether this account is connected to the reported incident.
Michy Carranza advised parents to take the situation seriously and formally document it.
“Make a report he physically touched an underaged child so they can’t turn away saying he didn’t do anything,” she wrote. “If there’s any cameras make sure to let them know exactly where.”
Eva Arias and Bryan Nieves both asked for more identifying information about the man involved, with Arias writing,
“We definitely need to see who it is. Name or photo would be great.”
At this time, the Bell Gardens Police Department has not publicly confirmed whether a report has been filed or whether an investigation is underway. NewsBreak has not independently verified the claims made in the original post.
Parents and residents are encouraged to remain vigilant at local parks and to report any suspicious behavior directly to BGPD rather than relying solely on social media posts to reach authorities. This story may be updated as more information becomes available.
