PD: Sex offender assaults boy at Chandler Red Robin

CHANDLER, AZ - A registered sex offender is behind bars after allegedly assaulting a boy Sunday at a Chandler restaurant.

Chandler police Detective Seth Tyler said Mesa resident John Isabel Chavez grabbed the 11-year-old boy at the Red Robin near Chandler and Metro boulevards.

Tyler said at around 6:30 p.m., the boy was in the men's restroom when Chavez grasped the boy, rubbed the child's shoulders and told the boy he would be at his house later in the evening.

When the boy tried to leave the restroom, Chavez reportedly blocked his path.

The child was eventually able to get away from Chavez and find his family. While his mother was calling police, Chavez fled the scene.

When police arrived at the restaurant, they were advised of a single vehicle collision near the restaurant involving a red pickup truck.

Witnesses told ABC15 that Chavez crashed his truck into a wall in a nearby neighborhood.

The neighbors didn't know about the incident at Red Robin until officers showed up.

"He was trying to get away at first," one witness said, "the men in the neighborhood were trying to calm him down because it was hard to tell if he was intoxicated or if he just had a really bad head injury."

Officers were able to identify Chavez as the driver of the truck, as well as the suspect in the assault at the Red Robin.

Tyler said Chavez was placed under arrest for DUI and transported to a local hospital where he was treated for injuries he suffered in the accident.

When he was released from the hospital, Chavez was booked into the Maricopa County Jail for assault, disorderly conduct, unlawful imprisonment, and DUI.

Police said Chavez was convicted of child molestation in 2010. His sentence was suspended, and he was placed on lifetime probation.