Suspect In SoCal Kidnapping, Torture, Rape Was A Former Police Officer

LOS ANGELES, CA — A man arrested on suspicion of kidnapping, raping and torturing a woman in Chino Hills this month previously worked as a police officer in Los Angeles County, the San Bernardino County District Attorney’s office confirmed Wednesday.

Peter Anthony McGuire, 59, was arrested following a standoff in Placentia June 9 after a woman escaped his Chino Hills home and told deputies she had been raped and tortured by him for months, according to the Chino Hills Police Department.

McGuire worked as a police officer for the Huntington Park Police Department and the now-defunct Hawaiian Gardens Police Department, Jacquelyn Rodriguez, spokeswoman for the district attorney's office, said.

SEE ALSO: Woman Held Captive, Tortured For Months Escapes: Police

His career in law enforcement appears to have been brief, according to a preliminary investigation.

McGuire worked for the Huntington Park Police Department from 1986 to 1987. He was hired by the Hawaiian Gardens Police Department eight years later, where he worked as an officer from 1995 to 1997, Rodriguez said.

The circumstances of his departures from both departments were not immediately clear Wednesday.

A Huntington Park Police Department spokesperson did not respond to a request for additional information regarding McGuire’s time as an officer.

The investigation remains ongoing, and detectives have sought out additional victims, Rodriguez said. Prosecutors filed charges in connection with only one victim, she added.

“We are using all the resources we can so we can separate this individual from society for as long as possible,” Rodriguez said.

McGuire was charged with torture, kidnapping to commit another crime, kidnapping, mayhem, assault with a deadly weapon, false imprisonment by violence, forcible rape, sodomy by use of force, forcible oral copulation, according to the district attorney's office.

He pleaded not guilty to the charges and was being held without bail. He is due back in court July 27.

The 22-year-old woman escaped from McGuire's Chino Hills house in the 16200 block of Cordovan Court, and she was able to get help from police officers shortly after escaping, authorities said.

“The victim told deputies Peter McGuire held her against her will at his residence for several months,” according to a statement by the Chino Hills Police Department. “ While being held against her will, McGuire tortured, physically assaulted, and raped the victim. The victim escaped from McGuire's residence minutes prior to speaking with deputies. The victim had visible injuries consistent with the allegations made. A search warrant was served at McGuire's residence and evidence was recovered, but McGuire had fled prior to the service of the search warrant.”

Investigators tracked McGuire to a home in Placentia two days after the woman was found. A SWAT Team surrounded the home while McGuire temporarily barricaded himself inside, refusing to come out, according to police. Hours later, he surrendered.

Anyone who may be a victim of McGuire or has information about the case was urged to contact Detective Ryan Girard or Deputy Dan Renear at the Chino Hills Station at 909-364-2000.