Cops Seek Suspect In Sexual Assault Of Office Cleaner

IRVINE, CA — Police Thursday released surveillance video in hopes of identifying a suspect who attempted to rape a woman cleaning an office in an Irvine commercial building.

The door to the office she was cleaning was unlocked when the suspect walked in carrying a skateboard and wearing a gray hoodie sweatshirt, Kim Mohr of the Irvine Police Department said.

The suspect asked the victim in Spanish if she was working alone, Mohr said.

"When she answered yes, he made aggressive sexual comments to her before demanding sex," Mohr said. "When she refused, he pulled the replica gun out of his pocket and pointed it at her as he threatened to kill her."

The suspect pushed the victim into another room, where he tried to disrobe her, Mohr said. The victim pleaded for her life and fended off her attacker for about four minutes before she was managed to disarm him, Mohr said. She then ran to a nearby office building for help.

Police found the fake gun at the crime scene. The victim told detectives she also saw that the suspect had a knife, Mohr said.

The victim suffered bruises to her arms, hands and breasts as well as scratches to her face, Mohr said.

Anyone with information helpful to investigators was asked to call Detective Haldor Larum at (949) 724-7194, or send an email to hlarum@cityofirvine.org.

Photo: Irvine Police video