(August 5, 2006, updated) -- LBPD was on to him and its information office was working after-hours Friday night August 4 get a suspect description to the public over the weekend. A male suspect was believed responsible for a string of August 3-4 robberies, sexual assaults and attempted sexual assaults on several women in multiple LB locations. Salient parts of his description: a male 30-35 yrs old, 150-180 pounds, short black hair, numerous arm tattoos, possibly scarred along jaw line, seen fleeing the incidents on a bicycle. .
We are pleased to report that within minutes of issuing the release shortly after 9:00 p.m. Friday night, diligent LB police work tracked down a suspect who matched the description...who was detained by about 10:00 p.m. and arrested shortly thereafter.
As a result, LB residents can wake up Saturday, Aug. 5 to the following better news following a fast-breaking string of crimes:
- Aug. 3, approx. 9 a.m., near 1600 block of E. 7th St
- Aug. 3, approx. 12:00 p.m., near 1300 block of Gaviota Ave.
- Aug. 3, approx. 12:50 p.m. near 2200 block of E. Anaheim St.
- Aug. 3, approx. 12:57 p.m. near 1900 block of E. 7th St.
- Aug. 4, approx. 12:53 p.m., near 1100 block of Gardenia Ave.
- Aug. 4, approx. 4:15 p.m. near 1000 block of St. Louis Ave.
LBPD alleged as follows regarding the six incidents: the suspect approached the women and demanded money; in two incidents, he displayed a knife; in another incident, he simulated possessing a handgun. He got cash in one incident, sexually assaulting one victim by inappropriately touching her over her clothing; he attempted to sexually assault several more victims; none were injured.
On August 4 at about 10:00 p.m., LB police officers arrested a suspect in the 1600 block of Sherman Place.
[update] LBPD Public Information Officer Sgt. David Marander identifies the suspect as Raul Lopez, 36, of Fontana. He's in custody on $3 million bail on charges including attempted rapes, kidnapping, terrorist threats, robbery and possession of a dangerous drug believed by police to be methamphetamine.
"Our field officers did a great job," Sgt. Marander said. "They followed up leads exhaustively that led to his location and he was arrested on the street. He matched the description to a tee...and the bicycle [identified in the suspect description] was also recovered."
Anyone with information about these crimes [or other similar-sounding incidents] should contact LBPD's Sex Crimes Detectives Louie Galvan or Jennifer Kearns at (562) 570-6407.
