South San Francisco man arrested on suspicion of sexually abusing three children

The suspect lived at a home that doubled as an unlicensed day care, police said.

SOUTH SAN FRANCISCO — A 55-year-old South San Francisco man was arrested Thursday on suspicion of sexually abusing three children, according to police.

In a statement Friday, the South San Francisco Police Department said it launched an investigation last week after one of the victims reported the abuse. A total of three victims were identified over the course of the investigation, according to police.

The suspect — identified as Rafael Cortez-Ramirez — lived at a residence in the 500 block of 3rd Lane, police said.

A second person was operating an unlicensed day care at the home, according to police.

Citing victim confidentiality, a police department spokesperson declined to provide additional details about the case, including how the suspect and the victims were related and whether the alleged abuse involved children at the day care.

On Thursday, Cortez-Ramirez was arrested and booked into San Mateo County jail on charges of oral copulation or sexual penetration with a child 10 years old or younger, sexual intercourse or sodomy with a child 10 years old or younger, kidnapping to commit another crime, lewd act upon a child and forcible lewd act upon a child, police said. He is being held without bail, according to online jail records.

Police asked anyone with information about Cortez-Ramirez or whose child attended the day care between 2010 and 2019 to contact the police department at 650-877-8900.

Check back for updates.