Teen-Ager Arrested in Sexual Assault of 5-Year-Old at School : Crime: Tipster led police to the 16-year-old boy, authorities say. The girl was attacked Tuesday afternoon in a bathroom on a South-Central campus.

Acting on a tip, police arrested a 16-year-old boy Thursday on suspicion of sexually assaulting a 5-year-old girl in a bathroom at a South-Central Los Angeles elementary school.

Lt. Jim Voge of the Los Angeles Police Department said the boy “will be booked . . . on a serious felony.”

Voge gave few details of the investigation except to say that “someone had called and gave some information.” The youth was taken from his home to the LAPD’s Newton Division about 7 p.m., Voge said.

The victim, a kindergartner, was attacked Tuesday at 66th Street Elementary School after excusing herself from class about 1:25 p.m., police said. She remained hospitalized under observation Thursday but was expected to be released later in the evening, police said.

The suspect had been the target of a community manhunt. Police and government officials had gathered outside the school Thursday to seek help in finding the suspect.

Assistant Principal Ontario Walker called the assault “shocking.”

“How in the world did this happen?” she asked. “We’re so vigilant.”

Los Angeles school board member Barbara Boudreaux, whose district includes the area, called the attacker “the most despicable character walking this Earth” and announced plans to introduce a motion at the Feb. 6 school board meeting that would prohibit unaccompanied bathroom breaks for all students districtwide.

It was unknown if the suspect had been hiding in the bathroom or walked in after the girl entered. The attack lasted five minutes, and the door to the bathroom remained open the entire time, said Capt. Jim Tatreau, commanding officer of the LAPD’s Newton Division.

About 75 parents met with officials in the school auditorium Thursday morning to express outrage at the attack and offer help in beefing up security at the school, said district spokeswoman Diana Munatones.

School officials reported that gates around the campus are normally locked while classes are conducted and that at least three security guards are on duty during school hours.

*

Although some district schools have policies barring students from using restrooms unaccompanied, 66th Street School only encourages youngsters to follow that practice, Munatones said.

That may change.

Under the districtwide bathroom break proposed by Boudreaux, a student would not be able to leave class to use the restroom unless escorted by at least another pupil of the same gender.

Parent Venetia Shells did not wait for a change in school policy before taking action. She told her 8-year-old son Brandon, a third-grader at the school, that he cannot go to the bathroom alone.

“Now I’m going to ask my teacher to have someone go with me,” said the boy, standing with his mother outside their home, which faces the school.

“You better believe it,” Shells said.

Despite the concern, attendance levels were normal Thursday, Walker said.