North Hollywood Man Charged with Kidnapping Store Clerk with Intent to Rape

LOS ANGELES, CA -- A North Hollywood man who allegedly dragged a clerk by her hair from a South Los Angeles convenience store while wielding a hammer, with the intent of raping her, was charged today with attempted murder and other counts.

Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Sergio C. Tapia II ordered Jose Caro, 28, to be jailed on $2.3 million bail while awaiting arraignment Oct. 25.

Caro is charged with one count each of attempted murder, kidnapping to commit rape, assault with intent to commit rape, criminal threats, stalking and fleeing a pursuing peace officer's motor vehicle while driving recklessly, along with two counts of assault with a deadly weapon.

Caro allegedly grabbed the 28-year-old clerk from a store in Exposition Park, dragged her by her hair and forced her into his red Honda sedan on Wednesday.

He was allegedly armed with a hammer and knife when he entered the store in the 3900 block of Denker Avenue, near Exposition Boulevard.

Caro is suspected of driving the woman to a North Hollywood cemetery, where she managed to escape. He was taken into custody around 9:35 p.m. Wednesday after a vehicle pursuit that ended in a crash.

Officers used a Taser to take him into custody, according to Officer Liliana Preciado of the Los Angeles Police Department's Media Relations Division.

If convicted, Caro could face up to life in state prison, according to the District Attorney's Office.

City News Service