LBPD Detectives Pursue Tip, Locate & Arrest Suspect In Jan. '14 Sexual Assault (LB Blvd/15th St.)...And DA Files Eight Felony Counts
(Oct. 20, 2014) -- Acting on a tip, LBPD Detectives have located and arrested a Signal Hill man in connection with a Jan. 2014 alleged sexual assault that included the alleged kidnapping of a 53 year old mentally impaired female from a parking lot in the area of LB Blvd./15th St.
Earlier today (Oct. 20), the L.A. County District Attorney's office filed charges of sexual assaults, criminal threats, and kidnapping against the arrestee-now-defendant, who's in LB's city jail on $4.5 million bail.
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The arrest and DA-filed charges follow LBPD's Feb. 2014 release of surveillance video (below) coupled with request for the public's assistance. In a Feb. 2014 release, LBPD said its Detectives were "actively investigating the incident, working closely with Patrol, using other investigative tools, and following up on leads in an effort to identify the suspect." It looks like LBPD did exactly that.
Its Oct. 20, 2014 release is below, followed by LBPD's Feb. 2014 released surveillance video and accompanying release text.
[LBPD Oct. 20, 2014 LBPD release text] Long Beach Police arrested a male suspect in connection with a sexual assault that occurred in January 2014, and charges have been filed.
On January 14, 2014, at approximately 1:30 a.m., a male suspect [allegedly] kidnapped a 53-year-old mentally impaired female from a parking lot in the area of 15th Street and Long Beach Boulevard, and sexually assaulted her.
On October 16, 2014, Sex Crimes Detectives received a tip regarding this incident and coordinated with Vice Detectives to further the investigation and locate the suspect. In the early morning hours of Friday, October 17, 2014, detectives arrested 32-year-old David Faavale Tautolo of Signal Hill, in the area of Warren and Anaheim Street, without incident.
On October 20, 2014, Long Beach Police Sex Crimes Detectives presented this case to the Los Angeles District Attorney's Office for filing consideration. The District Attorney’s Office filed eight felony counts, which included: charges of sexual assaults, criminal threats, and kidnapping. Tautolo is currently being held in Long Beach City Jail on $4.5 million bail.
Anyone with information regarding this crime is urged to contact Long Beach Police Sex Crimes Detective Jennifer Kearns at (562) 570-5514. Anyone wishing to remain anonymous may call 1-800-222-TIPS (8477), or text TIPLA plus your tip to 274637 (CRIMES), or visit www.LACrimeStoppers.org.
[Feb. 2014 released video]
[Salient portions of LBPD Feb. 2014 release text] -- On January 14, 2014, at approximately 1:30 a.m., a male suspect kidnapped a 53-year-old mentally impaired female from a parking lot in the area of 15th Street and Long Beach Boulevard, and sexually assaulted her. Approximately 45 minutes later, the suspect dropped the victim off in the area of 16th Street and Martin Luther King Boulevard. The victim immediately reported the incident to police and cooperated with the Sexual Assault Response Team. Detectives are now working with Los Angeles County Sheriff Department's Scientific Services Bureau to uncover any possible physical evidence.
...Detectives have been actively investigating the incident, working closely with Patrol, using other investigative tools, and following up on leads in an effort to identify the suspect, and are now asking for the public's help. The kidnapping of the victim was caught on surveillance video from a nearby business, and detectives believe the suspect is familiar with the area may be recognizable. In the video clips, the suspect can be seen getting out of his vehicle, walking over to the victim, and then walking the victim over to his vehicle....
