Police arrested a 17-year-old Hispanic male in Oxnard on Friday afternoon, September 28, as the suspect in the previous night’s condominium burglary and rape in the 1100 block of Princeton Street, just north of Wilshire Boulevard, in Santa Monica.
At 4 p.m. on Friday, patrol officers from the Santa Monica Police Department with the assistance of officers from the Oxnard Police Department arrested the suspect in the 3500 block of La Costa Avenue in the City of Oxnard as he was driving the victim’s vehicle. Evidence linking him to the crime was recovered from the vehicle and from his residence. There were no other occupants in the vehicle.
On Thursday, September 27, a woman came home to her Princeton Street condo at approximately 10 p.m. and found a person ransacking her residence. The 5’5” male Hispanic, wielding a knife, tied her up, sexually assaulted her, and kept her hostage in her own home for four hours before he left shortly after 2 a.m., taking her ATM card and car keys.
The woman was able to free herself, ran to a neighbor’s house, and called police, who responded at 2:20 a.m. “The victim was taken to a local hospital where she is in stable condition,” said SMPD Lt. Alex Padilla on Friday morning.
Police determined that the intruder entered the woman’s unit by means of a doggy door.
The juvenile suspect arrested Friday afternoon resides in Oxnard; he was transported to the Santa Monica jail where he was booked for burglary, armed robbery, kidnapping, rape and grand theft auto.
Lt. Padilla added, “This is an ongoing investigation,” and anyone with additional information is encouraged to call the Santa Monica Police Department at 310.458-8427 (24 hours) or call Detectives at 310.458.8451 (M-F 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.). Anyone wishing to remain anonymous may call the WeTip hotline at 800.78.CRIME (27463).
