Culver City police say a 24-year-old man is in custody after a woman reported being grabbed from behind and assaulted in an alley just off Washington Boulevard near the Culver City Costco. According to investigators, the woman told officers the man wrapped his arms around her waist from behind, lifted her off the ground, and that she managed to break free by screaming and kicking. She reported that before he ran off west through the alley, the suspect kissed her on the cheek. Detectives now believe this may not be the only incident and are urging anyone who thinks they may have been targeted to contact police.
What police say
Officers identified the suspect as 24-year-old Giovanni Leon and arrested him on Tuesday after a patrol unit spotted a man matching the victim's description near Washington Boulevard and Louise Avenue, according to CBS Los Angeles. Police say Leon was detained for investigation and later booked on suspicion of assault with intent to commit a sexual offense.
Where it happened
The attack was reported around 12:30 p.m. Sunday in an alley along the 13310 block of Washington Boulevard, near the Culver City Costco, as reported by Patch. Patch notes that the victim did not report any physical injuries. Detectives "launched an investigation" that quickly led them to a suspect. Anyone with information about this case or about similar incidents is asked to contact Detective Christopher Aguilar at 310-253-6318 or [email protected].
Police follow-up and legal note
Investigators determined that Leon is a registered sex offender and are now working with other local law enforcement agencies to identify any additional potential victims, according to CBS Los Angeles. Police say there are currently no other reports of similar crimes in the Culver City area, and the investigation remains active.
