By Daily Press staff
Local police have arrested a transient who allegedly raped and robbed a woman in her Santa Monica home earlier this week.
Santa Monica Police officers arrested Samuel Arias Jr., 28, on Thursday after police connected him to the sexual assault of a 28-year-old woman in her home located in the 1300 block of 14th Street at about 8:30 p.m. on Tuesday.
The woman reported to Santa Monica police that she was sexually assaulted and robbed at her residence located between Arizona Avenue and Santa Monica Boulevard on 14th Street.
On Thursday at about 7 a.m., SMPD officers responded to a call from Santa Monica Place security personnel who requested assistance with a transient who refused to leave the area. Responding officers recognized Arias from a law enforcement bulletin and took him into custody.
Santa Monica Police investigators recovered evidence which connected Arias to the crime and he also matched the physical description provided by the victim.
Arias was arrested and transported to the Santa Monica Jail.
Originally published in the Santa Monica Daily Press print edition on March 1, 2003. Read the original PDF.