Man taken into custody just one day after local woman was assaulted
OXNARD Santa Monica Police took a suspect into custody Friday night who was wanted in connection with a sexual assault that occurred in the 1100 block of Princeton Street less than 24 hours beforehand.
Unsure whether the suspect was a minor, SMPD officials were not releasing the name of the alleged assailant as of presstime Friday. The Hispanic male was arrested without incident in Oxnard, with the assistance of the Oxnard Police Department, according to SMPD Capt. Alex Padilla.
The victim was assaulted at knifepoint on Thursday night after arriving home around 10 p.m., discovering her place ransacked and the suspect still inside, police said. The man proceeded to tie the victim up and sexually assault her.
The suspect didn’t leave the WilMont home until 2:10 a.m., taking the victim’s bank cards and her tan, 2003 Mercedes 500SL. The stolen car was recovered Friday night by police, Padilla said.
Reportedly, the woman freed herself and went to a neighbor’s home and called police. She was in stable condition at a local hospital Friday morning.
The suspect was initially described as a Latino, about 5-feet, 5-inches tall with a medium build. He spoke in broken English, police reported.
The Daily Press published a report Friday about a grandmother who was robbed at knifepoint by two Hispanic men in the area of 25th Street and Georgina Avenue.
In both attacks, a knife was used, police said.
The investigation is ongoing. Anyone with information is urged to call the Santa Monica Police Department at (310) 458-8426.
Originally published in the Santa Monica Daily Press print edition on September 29, 2007. Read the original PDF.