Man arrested in series of sexual assaults; Second man sought
(LAPD HQ)
VENICE, Calif. - One man was in custody and a second man is being sought in connection with about a dozen recent sexual assaults in the Palms and Venice areas of Los Angeles, police said Tuesday.
The crimes occurred between May 14 and June 19, according to the Los Angeles Police Department. Similar crimes may have occurred in the Culver City and Marina del Rey areas, police said.
Early Monday, police arrested 21-year-old Darryll Mercadel of Los Angeles and booked him on suspicion of forced sexual penetration, police said. He was being held on $275,000 bail, according to the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department.
Get breaking news alerts in the FOX 11 News app. Download for iOS or Android.
"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," an LAPD statement said.
According to police, officers located a silver Mercedes-Benz C-class sedan near where several of the attacks occurred and arrested Mercadel.
"This is a great example of the neighborhood coming together to help get this guy off the streets," LAPD Capt. Steven Embrich said. "Without these great neighbors looking out for each other, we wouldn't have had that vital information that cracked the case."
Detectives are seeking a second suspect believed to be involved in the crimes. He is described as a Black man in his early 20s with a medium height and a heavy build. No further description was released.
"The suspects approach young females who are walking or jogging alone on streets during early evening hours," police said.
"The suspects grab the women's buttocks and breasts, then flee on foot, on a skateboard, on a bicycle and, in several instances, in a silver Mercedes-Benz sedan."
Anyone with information on the case is urged to call 213-473-0447;877-LAPD-247; or Crime Stoppers at 800-222-TIPS.