SANTA CRUZ -- After an intense search and numerous tips from the public, Santa Cruz police have arrested a French national on suspicion of sexual assault, authorities announced Thursday.

Pierre Anton, 19, was arrested at his workplace in Soquel around 5:45 p.m. Wednesday after police received numerous tips directing them to a home where he was staying, police reported.

Anton was working for a non-profit organization as part of a work exchange program, and was scheduled to leave the U.S. next week, police said.

Anton was taken to the Santa Cruz Police Department Wednesday evening where the victim identified him as the attacker, police said. He has been booked into the Santa Cruz County Jail on rape charges.

The sexual assault was reported around 12:40 p.m. Saturday but occurred early that morning, police spokesman Zach Friend said.

The victim, a 23-year-old woman from Contra Costa County, told police she was at Rosie McCann's, a bar on Pacific Avenue, when she met a man with a strong French accent who introduced himself as "Pierre."

The two left the bar and walked down to the river levee, where the man held the victim down and raped her. Two witnesses heard her screaming and disrupted the assault, at which point the man fled.

Police are continuing to look for the two men who witnessed the rape.

Anyone with information about them is asked to contact the Santa Cruz Police Department Investigations Section at (831) 420-5820, or call the tip line at (831) 420-5995.