CHULA VISTA, Calif. -- A 35-year-old Chula Vista man was in custody Wednesday on suspicion of tying two young boys to a tree and molesting them, police said.

The man, identified as Jose Cervantes, was arrested around 5 p.m. Tuesday as he arrived home to an apartment complex where the alleged molestation occurred, according to the Chula Vista Police Department.

The alleged victims, ages 5 and 7, told investigators they were riding their bikes on D Street, near Cedar Avenue, when Cervantes grabbed them sometime last week and forced them into the courtyard of the apartment complex, police said.

Cervantes then allegedly tied the boys to a tree and sexually assaulted them before walking away. They were freed by an unidentified woman, police said.

A few days later, one of the boys told his sister about the alleged attack and a police report was filed Sunday. The boys later identified the man from a photo lineup, police said.