Police Ride-Along helps Nab a Serial Sexual Assault Suspect NR09389gb

Los Angeles: The Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) announced the arrest of 22-year-old,
Everardo Carrada, a resident of Los Angeles, for at least four sexual assaults to young women in the Los Angeles area.

On July 25, 2009, the LAPD Special Assault Section, Robbery-Homicide Division, responded to the LAPD’s 77th Area to investigate two reported sexual assaults that appeared to be the beginning of a serial sexual assault predator.   In the first incident, a female, 20 years of age reported she was in the area of the 6600 block of Figueroa Street at about 2:30 a.m. when she was approached by a male Hispanic who was driving a red Ford Mustang.  The victim entered the suspect’s vehicle and he drove her to a secondary location where he sexually assaulted and robbed her at knife point.  

As the officers were completing the investigation another radio call was generated which lead the officers to a second victim.  In this incident, the victim, a female 20 years of age, had reported on July 25, 2009,at around 3:30 a.m.  She was walking in the area of 59th and Figueroa Streets when she was approached by a male Hispanic in a red Ford Mustang.  After entering his vehicle, the suspect drove to a secondary location where he robbed and sexually assaulted her inside his car at knife point.  
 
A third incident occurred on July 28, 2009, at about 11:45 p.m. and was being investigated by the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department in which an 18-years-old female was kidnapped and robbed at knife point by a suspect driving a red Ford Mustang.  The victim was able to escape from the moving vehicle prior to being assaulted.   It was later determined that the incident occurred in LAPD’s 77th Area when the victim was in the area of Figueroa Street and Manchester Boulevard.    

Detectives discovered a fourth incident involving a red Ford Mustang that actually occurred on July 19, 2009, at about 6 a.m.  The victim, a female, 16 years of age, was in the 200 block of West Imperial Highway when a suspect forced her into his vehicle, drove to a secondary location and sexually assaulted her at knife point.  

After the first incidents that generated LAPD Robbery-Homicide Division’s response, a composite drawing of the suspect was completed and a crime alert bulletin containing the composite drawing, vehicle and suspect description and the suspect’s method of operation was released to LAPD personnel and other jurisdictions.  Detectives noted the similarities of the suspect taking the victims to a secondary location near the area of 135th Street and Broadway, and the vehicle and suspect description, and the suspect’s method of operation were similar causing detectives to believe the cases were connected.  

On August 5, 2009, at approximately 1245 a.m. an LAPD 77th Area patrol sergeant was driving in his marked black and white patrol car in the area of Figueroa Street and Slauson Avenue with a police ride-along.  The sergeant was sharing the crime alert involving the red Ford Mustang and the suspect description with the person who was on ride along whom in return immediately advised the sergeant that a similar vehicle was also driving northbound Figueroa Street near their vehicle.  The sergeant followed the vehicle which pulled into a Union 76 gas station lot at Figueroa Street and Slauson Avenue. The driver exited the vehicle and walked to the gas station attendant’s window.  

At this point, the sergeant noted he matched the suspect in the composite drawing, so the sergeant detained him for questioning.   The driver was arrested for Penal Code Section 209(B) 1 PC (Kidnap with the Intent to Commit Rape) and was transported to LAPD 77th Area Jail where he was booked.  He is currently being held on a bail amount of $1,200,432.

The suspect is described as a male Hispanic, brown hair, hazel eyes, 5 feet 5 inches to 5 feet 7 inches, 25-35 years of age, with a medium build.  The vehicle was described as a 2000-2005 Ford Mustang with tinted windows and designer door knobs.  The suspect was armed with a knife.

Due to the nature of the crimes and the ongoing investigation, detectives believe there might be other victims or witnesses.  Anyone with information regarding this incident is urged to call LAPD Robbery-Homicide Detectives Adolfo Contreras or Monica Cross at 213-485-2921.  During off-hours or on weekends, calls may be directed to a 24-hour, toll-free number at 1-877-LAPD-24-7 (527-3247).  Callers may also text "Crimes" with a cell phone or log on to www.lapdonline.org and click on web tips.  When using a cell phone, all messages should begin with "LAPD."  Tipsters may remain anonymous.