On Monday, the Stanislaus County Sheriff’s Office responded to a juvenile molestation at Denair Middle School in the 3700 block of Lester Road in Denair.

A middle school student stated that while walking home, a man in a vehicle drove by them masturbating.

The student wasn’t injured during the incident and ran away to alert an adult at the school.

A deputy responded and took a report.

Detectives began investigating by reviewing video surveillance footage and vehicle registration information.

The suspect vehicle, a brown 2002 Chevrolet Tahoe, was determined to belong to Elias Ruiz, 50, of Delhi.

Ruiz matched the suspect description and was formerly a registered sex offender as of three years ago.

Later, detectives located Ruiz in Riverbank driving the same vehicle.

Ruiz was arrested and booked into the Stanislaus County Public Safety Center on the charge of annoying or molesting a child.

Because of his history, the crime Ruiz is charged with, typically a misdemeanor, is punishable as a felony.

The investigation remains ongoing. Anyone with information that could assist is encouraged to call the Stanislaus County Sheriff’s Office at 209-525-2468.