Santa Monica police this week arrested a suspect in connection with a series of violent sexual assaults and attacks in the area over the last six months.
Pablo Carlos Pineda, 32, was located Tuesday at about 5:15 p.m. in the MacArthur Park area of Los Angeles following an extensive multi-agency probe involving officers from the Santa Monica, Beverly Hills and Los Angeles police departments as well as FBI investigators, according to an SMPD press release.
Pineda was taken into custody and booked at the Santa Monica jail on charges of forcible rape, assault with intent to commit rape and assault producing great bodily injury, according to the release.
He is being held on $385,000 bail in connection with the charges, which only stem from the two incidents in Santa Monica. The two other incidents are under review by the District Attorney’s office.
Pineda has been linked to sexual assaults in Santa Monica in the 1200 block of the beach on Jan. 13 and Feb. 5. He is also accused of a violent attack April 15 in the 9000 block of Wilshire Boulevard in Beverly Hills and a sexual assault July 2 in the 1300 block of Westgate Avenue in Los Angeles.
Santa Monica police are asking for the public’s help in identifying any potential victims or witnesses. Anyone with information is urged to contact Santa Monica police at 310-458-8218, Beverly Hills police at 310-285-2160 or Los Angeles police at 213-486-6931.
