Echo Park-Silver Lake Sexual Predator Arrested, Police Announce

A day after offering a $10,000 reward, police arrested the man they believe to be responsible for a string of attempted rapes and sexual assaults in Echo Park, Westlake, Silver Lake, Hollywood and downtown Los Angeles

According to investigators, the suspect is connected to eight attacks, including seven that took place over the course of two days this month.The most recent sighting took place Saturday morning in Hollywood, when the suspect was seen peeping into a home in the 1900 block of North Highland Avenue through a window, authorities said.

The attempted rapes occurred in the 800 block of North Mariposa Avenue in East Hollywood and the 1600 block of Cortez Street in Echo Park, according to Los Angeles County Supervisor Hilda Solis, whose request for a $10,000 reward in the case was approved by her colleagues on Tuesday.

The man checked numerous apartment doors and then entered unlocked units. When a female resident returned to her apartment from the complex's laundry room, the suspect covered her mouth and pinned her to the wall. Her loud scream ultimately scared him off.

In the second case, the suspect pinned a woman against a couch and assaulted her. Her dogs somehow intervened and the woman was able to push the man off and run for help, Solis said.

The suspect's name was not released. More details on the arrest will be provided at a news conference Thursday afternoon.

City News Service contributed to this report.