Man Suspected Of Rape In IE Arrested At LAX After Fleeing The US: Sheriff

LYTLE CREEK, CA — A man suspected of rape in Lytle Creek was arrested at the Los Angeles International Airport on Tuesday, authorities said.

On Aug. 26, around 5:18 a.m., deputies responded to the 2800 block of Lytle Creek Road in the community of Lytle Creek for an "unknown problem call." When they arrived, deputies located and contacted a female victim "who had just been sexually assaulted" by a man she met on a dating app, according to a news release from the San Bernardino County Sheriff's Department.

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Detectives identified the suspect as Samuel Lau, a 29-year-old resident of Glendale. Detectives learned that Lau went to Los Angeles International Airport immediately after the assault and took a flight out of the United States, authorities said.

Authorities did not disclose where Lau took a flight out of the country.

Detectives continued to investigate and discovered Lau was also the suspect in a sexual assault that occurred in Los Angeles County in July of this year. Authorities obtained an arrest warrant for Lau and continued their investigation, according to the San Bernardino County Sheriff's Department.

On Tuesday, with the assistance of the Department of Homeland Security and U.S. Customs and Border Patrol, Lau was taken into custody at Los Angeles International Airport upon his re-entry into the United States.

Lau was turned over to detectives at the sheriff's Fontana station and booked into the West Valley Detention Center for rape by force. He is being held without bail, authorities said.

Detectives believe there may be additional victims, according to the San Bernardino County Sheriff's Department.

Anyone with information related to the investigation was asked to contact the Fontana Sheriff's Station at 909-356-6767. Callers wishing to remain anonymous can call or text "REPORT" to We-Tip at 844-909-3006.