Police Rule Out Suspect As Serial Rapist In South LA

SOUTH LOS ANGELES (CBS) — Authorities have ruled out a suspect they believed was responsible for a series of sexual assaults in South L.A.

After interviewing him for a good part of the day, detectives said the man, who they did not immediately identify, was suspected in only one assault.

"He is still being interviewed," LAPD Officer Bruce Borihanh said late Monday afternoon. "He will be booked later today, but he is not linked to the other assaults, just the one."

An officer saw an injured, unconscious woman on a bus bench at Manchester and Normandie avenues just before 12:55 a.m. and her suspected assailant fleeing, said Officer Roger Aguirre . A perimeter was quickly set up in the area and a police dog located the suspect about 2 a.m., he said.

Officers used a police dog and bean bag darts to capture the man.

Police at first thought the suspect was linked to three previous sexual assaults in the area.

Two women were attacked Friday morning in the area of Western and Manchester avenues by a man with a fake gun, Aguirre said.

"One woman fought back and grabbed the gun," he said. "She realized it was fake and hit him in the head with it."

A 72-year-old woman was raped in her home in the same area Friday night.

A man matching the description in the earlier assaults persuaded her to open her door to give him a glass of water, and he pushed his way inside, Aguirre said.

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