Phoenix man arrested for allegedly posing as doctor, sexually assaulting girl at elementary school

PHOENIX — A Phoenix man has been arrested for allegedly impersonating a doctor and sexually assaulting a girl at an elementary school, authorities announced Thursday.

Abel Kai Gblah, 25, is accused of assaulting a 10-year-old girl at Orangewood Elementary School, near 19th and Glendale avenues, according to the Phoenix Police Department.

He has been booked into jail on charges of sexual assault, kidnapping and probation violation.

He is being held on a $500,000 bond.

Details of sexual assault at Phoenix elementary school

Around 12:20 p.m. on Wednesday, officers responded to the school after being called by administrators, Phoenix police said.

The officers discovered that a man who was not authorized to be at the school had made it inside, lured the student into a classroom and sexually assaulted her.

The victim told police that the suspect told her he was a doctor and that he needed to perform tests, according to court documents.

The girl was able to push the suspect away from her. He then ran from the school before police arrived, the department said.

Officers later took Gblah into custody at his home near 19th Avenue and Mountain View Road, the documents added. He denied all of the allegations and told police that he only left his home to go to a business center nearby and to smoke a cigarette.

However, the clothing Gblah was wearing while being detained matched that of the suspect seen in surveillance footage from the school, according to court documents.

Additionally, after serving a search warrant at Gblah’s home, officers found a shirt on a couch matching the one the suspect was wearing in the video.

Police also found that Gblah has a criminal history. In 2021, he pleaded guilty to two counts of sexual conduct with a minor, according to court records.

On Thursday, the Washington Elementary School District, which oversees Orangewood Elementary, released a statement about the incident. It can be read in full below.

On Wednesday, November 19, Orangewood administration was made aware of an unauthorized male on campus. They immediately called 911 and placed the school on lockdown from 12:20 to 1:45 p.m. Upon investigation, it was determined that the individual gained access behind a student who was buzzed in through the main entrance. He was on campus for approximately 10 minutes and during that time, he made inappropriate contact with a student. Orangewood and WESD administrators have been working closely with the Phoenix Police throughout the investigation and last night they informed the District that an arrest had been made. The Phoenix Police can provide additional information about the matter.

The school and district understand how concerning situations like this can be. An Orangewood employee has been placed on administrative leave while the District continues its investigation. The school administrator will be working closely with staff and District Security to review safety procedures to ensure they are doing everything possible to keep Orangewood a safe place for students and staff. Additionally, District Security will be on campus for the remainder of the week.

School and District administrators truly appreciate the Phoenix Police Department’s quick response to the matter. We are beyond grateful for their help and support and we are thankful they were able to apprehend this individual so quickly. The school and district are working closely with the child and the child’s family to provide any and all resources and support that they might need.

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