Hernandez was arrested on Tuesday and arraigned on Wednesday, pleading not guilty to felony charges of child abduction and strangulation or strangulation, as well as misdemeanor assault and battery counts, court papers show. At the time he was ordered held pending a hearing on Friday morning.
Belostock said Friday that the government has not produced “real evidence” of a kidnapping or strangulation or strangulation during the incident, and that he looks forward to continuing to defend the case “at trial.”
On Sunday at 12:41 p.m., State Police troopers responded to reports of an assault in the museum’s bathroom, according to a statement.
The 15-year-old girl reported she was at the museum with a friend when she entered the woman’s bathroom on the first level while her friend waited outside, authorities said.
The girl felt a hand reach her face and cover her mouth after she left the bathroom to wash her hands, believing it to be a friend, the statement said. She noticed that the person behind her was a man, later identified as Hernandez, who did not speak while trying to stop her, according to the statement.
Hernandez left the bathroom immediately after the girl screamed and ran away, authorities said. The girl asked for help from the staff, who notified the police, State Police said.
A witness, who was in the bathroom at the time of the incident, told police he noticed the first and last stalls were occupied, authorities said. When she walked into her store, she saw a pair of black and white sneakers that appeared to be “unusual in women’s sizes” in a nearby closet, the statement said.
A witness heard someone come out of the store followed by someone else, shouting indiscriminately, and some altercations, authorities said. According to the statement, when he left the stable, both were gone.
The State Police provided local police still with video footage where a man was seen entering the museum at 10:58 am wearing black clothes with black and white sneakers. He was seen sitting in the guest room near the toilet for about an hour before going into the bathroom, authorities said.
Cambridge police on Monday identified the man as Hernandez from a distinctive tattoo on his left arm and called the State Police, according to a statement.
Hernandez was arrested by State Police the next day after he was found in Somerville, the statement said.
“This is a scary incident for anyone, especially a young person who is enjoying a night out with a friend at a popular location,” Suffolk County District Attorney Kevin R. Hayden said. “The young woman’s description of her assailant, along with high-level identification work based on images released by investigators, led to the suspect’s identification and arrest a few days after the incident.”
When asked if there would be security changes following the alleged attack, a spokesperson said the Science Museum does not discuss security policies publicly.
“As a cultural institution open to all, the Science Museum carefully examines how to maintain a safe and welcoming collaborative environment,” the museum said in a statement. “Our Public Safety team works proactively across the Museum’s property and is constantly improving its operations, technology and protocols to address potential issues. We have a long-standing relationship with the Police Department of The country, whose homes are nearby. We thank our staff and guests for being partners in this effort and letting our Public Safety team know if they have concerns.”
Information from earlier Globe stories was used in this report. This latest story will be updated as more information is released.
Travis Andersen can be reached at travis.andersen@globe.com.
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