The Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department Special Victims Bureau has released the above photo in the hopes that the public can help identify the suspect and the witness to a sexual assault that occurred on Metro Bus Line 217, Route 11, La Cienega Expo Line, southbound on Sepulveda Boulevard, at Slauson Avenue in Culver City early Wednesday evening.
According to the LASD, the incident occurred at 5:10 p.m. when an 18-year-old female with the mental capacity of a 10-year-old, reported that she was raped on the bus.
The teenager reported that she and the suspect boarded the bus at the same time at La Cienega Blvd. and Jefferson Blvd., in Culver City. The suspect followed her to the rear of the bus where she sat down and then without any warning or provocation, stood and faced her while positioning himself between her legs and sexually assaulted her.
During the rape, an unknown witness, the only other passenger on the bus, attempted to get the bus driver’s attention. After about 10 minutes the suspect stopped his assault and exited the bus when it reached the last stop at the turnaround (Sepulveda Blvd. & Slauson Ave.). It was then that the victim reported the rape to the bus driver.
The suspect is described as a black male, between the ages of 18 – 20, 5’08”-5’10”, 150-160lbs, short cropped hair, dark complexion, wearing jeans and a hooded sweatshirt with narrow horizontal stripes.
Detectives believe that the unidentified passenger may be able to help identify the suspect, and he is asked to contact LASD Special Victims Bureau investigators.
Anyone with information concerning the suspect or unknown witness are urged to call the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department, Special Victim’s Bureau toll free at (866) 247-LASD (5877). If you wish to remain Anonymous, call “LA Crime Stoppers” by dialing 800-222-TIPS (8477), texting the letters TIPLA plus your tip to CRIMES (274637), or using the website http://lacrimestoppers.org
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