A Santa Ana man was arrested on suspicion of sexually assaulting a woman in her car and robbing her in Orange this week, authorities said on Wednesday, Jan. 18.
Police say the 28-year-old man, who lives in Santa Ana, followed the 19-year-old victim as she shopped at the Main Place Mall and then kidnapped her in a parking structure about 7 p.m. Monday, Jan. 16.
He forced her to drive to a secluded parking lot in the 400 block of South Flower Street in Orange, where he sexually assaulted her and then ran away with her belongings, police said.
The victim called Orange police from a nearby convenience store, police said.
Santa Ana police took over the investigation and arrested the suspect, but they did not provide details as to how they found him and what time and where he was taken into custody.
Santa Ana police Chief David Valentin said the diligent work of detectives led to the suspect’s arrest within 24 hours of the crimes.
The suspect was being held on $1 million bail.
Court records show a January 2022 conviction for assault with a deadly weapon and criminal threats, with a sentence of 364 days in county jail.
“The crimes committed by this predator involved some of the most heinous acts of violence against an innocent victim going about her day,” Valentin said in a statement.
Source: Orange County Register
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