Man Tried To Rape Woman At Apartment Near UC Berkeley: Police

BERKELEY, CA — A 34-year-old man was arrested Saturday afternoon after trying to rape a woman at an apartment building near UC Berkeley, police said.

Police say the woman was in the communal laundry room of an apartment building in the 2300 block of Le Conte Avenue around 1 p.m. when the suspect sexually assaulted her.

By the time officers responded to the building, the suspect had gone to his apartment, police said.

The officers talked with the woman, and then located the suspect outside his apartment with a freshly shaved face, police said, adding that he had also changed his clothes.

In nearby communal restrooms, officers found a shaver and hair clippings on the ground, police said.

The suspect, who police identified as Ahmad Lutfi, was taken into custody on suspicion of attempted rape, false imprisonment and sexual battery, police said.

It's unclear whether the suspect and the woman knew each other or if they were neighbors.