Medford man accused of sexually abusing two boys at park

A Medford man was arrested for allegedly sexually abusing two boys at a children’s park near the suspect’s home, Suffolk County police announced Thursday.

Rashawn Brinkley, 27, was arrested Wednesday and charged with two counts of first-degree sexual abuse and two counts of acting in a manner to injure a child, a police news release said. 

“Protecting our children in this department is our number one priority,” Suffolk County Police Commissioner Rodney Harrison said during a news conference Thursday. “This illustrates how important it is to ask people to come forward and have the courage so we can hold these predators accountable.”

Police allege that Brinkley came to the Gordon Heights Children Park on Shirley Lane in Medford on Oct. 7 where, Harrison said, he “went up to two, at least two youths, juveniles, pushed his hand into their pants and touched their genitals.”

On Wednesday the boys saw Brinkley again at the same park, Harrison said. They notified a family member who called the police who responded and arrested Brinkley, Harrison said.

Harrison asked that anyone else who has been a victim of Brinkley call the Suffolk County police special victims section at 631-852-6531.