Arnoldo Cruz, a dangerous, registered sex offender, is in custody again — this time for groping a woman in her Venice home.
The 46 year-old El Monte resident was collared by LAPD on Friday night after allegedly reaching through the bedroom window of the victim’s home on Rialto Avenue and attempting rape her.
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“She screamed and fought him off, but he continued to lurk outside her window while indicating he wanted to sexually assault her,” the LAPD said in a news release. “The victim called 911 and the suspect fled.”
Officers dispatched to the scene quickly discovered a second victim a few blocks away, who revealed Cruz had exposed himself to her.
Using social media, they circulated a request for video footage and obtained photos of Cruz nearby. As they continued to look for additional cameras, detectives observed Cruz a few blocks away and arrested him on suspicion of assault with the intent to commit rape during the commission of a residential burglary. Neighbors later directed them to Cruz’s getaway vehicle, which he had left running near the original victim’s home.
“The Venice community united once again help us catch a very dangerous predator,” Captain Steven Embrich said. “As soon as we asked for help, the leads started pouring in. Due to the great community partnership and a swift response by our officers and detectives, our community members can sleep soundly once again.”
According to LAPD, Cruz is a registered sex offender in Colorado, but has not registered with any California agency.
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