Detectives Seeking Additional Suspect and Victims of Sexual Battery NR20142ti

Venice :The Los Angeles Police
Department’s Operations West Bureau Special Assault Section is
hailing the community’s assistance and announcing the arrest of a
prolific sexual battery suspect connected to a series of attacks in
the Palms and Venice areas.

Between May 14 and June 19, 2020, detectives with the Operations
West Bureau have identified as many as 13 possible incidents,
with potential additional occurrences in Culver City and Marina
Del Rey. Thanks to video provided by concerned neighbors,
investigators obtained a license plate of the suspect’s vehicle
and identified one of the suspects involved in the series.

Officers assigned to LAPD Pacific Area located the vehicle, a
silver Mercedes Benz C-class sedan, near where several of the
sexual batteries occurred, shortly after midnight on June 22,
2020. They followed the vehicle and arrested the suspect,
21-year-old Darryll Mercadel (Booking Number 5958556) of Los
Angeles, on suspicion of forced sexual penetration.

“This is a great example of the neighborhood coming together to
help get this guy off the streets,” said Captain Steven Embrich,
Pacific Area’s commanding officer. “Without these great neighbors
looking out for each other, we wouldn’t have had that vital
information that cracked the case. We really appreciate all the
people who stepped up and helped us out.”

Detectives from LAPD’s Operations West Bureau Special Assault
Section are still seeking the identity of a second suspect
believed to be working with Mercadel. In this series, the
suspects approach young females who are walking or jogging alone
on streets during early evening hours. The suspects grab the
women’s buttocks and breasts, then flee on foot, on skateboard,
on a bicycle and, in several instances, in a silver Mercedes Benz
sedan. Witnesses describe the second suspect as a Black male of
medium height and heavier build in his early 20s. Though they
have not been seen together, both appear to be connected to the
silver Mercedes and are likely working in concert.

**To view the video please go to https://twitter.com/lapdhq**

Anyone with additional information about this crime is asked
to contact Operations West Bureau, Special Assault Section, at
(213) 473-0447. During non-business hours or on weekends, calls
should be directed to 1-877-LAPD-24-7 (877-527-3247). Anyone
wishing to remain anonymous should call the LA Regional Crime
Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (800-222-8477) or go directly to
www.lacrimestoppers.org. Tipsters may also visit www.lapdonline.org
and click on “Anonymous Web Tips” under the “Get Involved-Crime
Stoppers” menu to submit an online tip. Lastly, tipsters may also
download the “P-3 Tips” mobile application and select the LA
Regional Crime Stoppers as their local program.