Yuma police arrest, indict man in Target sexual abuse case

A sexual abuse case tied to the Yuma Palms Target moved from a February report to an arrest and indictment late last month, after Yuma police identified 22-year-old Gadiel Flores Castro as the suspect.

Police said officers were first called on Feb. 24, 2026, to the store at 1450 S. Yuma Palms Pkwy. Investigators were told a man followed a woman through the business, unwanted sexual contact occurred, and the suspect left in a white sedan.

The case remained under investigation for weeks before police identified Castro on April 27. He was arrested the next day and indicted on one count of sexual abuse. Records from the Yuma County Detention Center show Castro was booked at 2:33 p.m. on April 28 by the Yuma City Police Department. The inmate record lists the charge as sexual abuse and shows a $0.00 bond.

The timeline underscores how a report in a busy retail setting can take time to mature into a formal case. In incidents like this, police often have to sort through witness accounts, review store footage and narrow down a suspect before making an arrest and presenting the case to prosecutors.

Under Arizona law, sexual abuse is generally a class 5 felony. It rises to a class 3 felony if the victim is under 15.

The case has drawn attention because it unfolded at Yuma Palms Regional Center, a 400,000-square-foot shopping hub that includes Target, Best Buy, Marshalls, Ross, PetSmart, Old Navy and Ulta, along with restaurants and entertainment tenants. For shoppers moving through one of Yuma’s busiest commercial corridors, the allegation serves as a reminder that public spaces are not immune from serious violent crime.

Anyone with information can contact the Yuma Police Department at (928) 783-4421. Anonymous tips also can be made through 78-CRIME at (928) 782-7463. The City of Yuma says the tip line is a community program designed to bring law enforcement, the news media and citizens together to combat crime, and calls are not recorded.