CLAYTON, Mo. – As of Thursday evening, Clayton police have arrested a man wanted for kidnapping and sexual assault in Oak Knoll Park last week.

The Clayton Police Department shared an update earlier Thursday starting that detectives were looking for Jose Gomez-Velasquez, 25. He was wanted on several charges. An anonymous tip led to his arrest.

Gomez-Velasquez was taken into custody Thursday in south St. Louis.

Court documents state that the victim was walking in a Richmond Heights neighborhood on Aug. 30 when she was taken against her will to a nearby gas station. Gomez-Velasquez is accused of punching her in the face and then committing sexual assault in a secluded area of Oak Knoll Park.

Gomez-Velasquez choked the woman there before abandoning her. She spoke with police from an area hospital with the help of a translator. The victim is an immigrant with limited English skills. Police allege that Gomez-Velasquez threatened to kill the suspect if she screamed. Police say

Parkgoers were hopeful that Gomez-Velasquez would be found quickly, and many have been disturbed by the allegations.

“For somebody to take advantage of a vulnerable person is awful,” said parkgoer Janice Fortenberry.

“There are lots of people walking around, so I surprised [the suspect] could even get away with it,” said parkgoer Mary Ann Gibson.

Clayton police say that reporting instances such as this with as many details as possible can help in finding suspects.

“Violent crime in our community is very rare. However, we want to make sure people understand they need to be aware of what’s going on around them at all times,” said Cpt. Jenny Schwartz with the Clayton Police Department. “If anything were to happen, the more information we have, the more chance we have of finding a criminal.”

The St. Louis County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office issued at-large warrants for Gomez-Velasquez. The charges include kidnapping, assault, and sexual abuse. His bond will be set at $300,000, cash-only.