2 Arrested In Kidnapping, Rape Of SF Woman: Sonoma Co. Sheriff

NORTH SAN FRANCISCO BAY AREA, CA — Two North Bay men have been arrested following a months-long investigation into a San Francisco woman's account of being kidnapped from San Francisco and driven to Sonoma County where she was violently sexually assaulted. Fredi Analberto Lopez-Flores, 33, of Novato, was taken into custody Friday in connection with the April 14 rape and kidnapping and Christian Alejandro Quintero, 24, of Sonoma, was arrested Saturday, a Sonoma County Sheriff's Office spokesman said Monday.

"This incident began when a San Francisco woman got into what she thought was a ride-sharing car after leaving Bruno’s Bar in San Francisco," said sheriff's Sgt. Spencer Crum. "The suspects took her to Sonoma where she was beaten, choked and sexually assaulted by two men in the car. She eventually escaped and was aided by a Safeway employee."

Following more than 2,000 hours of staff time, Crum said detectives have determined Quintero and Lopez-Flores were not drivers for any ride-sharing company. Rather, it "was a random attack," Crum said.

"The suspects found the woman standing on the corner of Stanyan Street and Fulton Street in San Francisco, waiting for a ride on the morning of April 14 when Lopez-Flores drove up next to her," Crum said. "She had actually taken a ride share from Bruno’s Bar in the Mission District to this location accidentally and was waiting for a second ride share to get her home."

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Detectives allege Quintero got out of the car and forced the victim into the back seat of Lopez-Flores car. There, "he violently beat and attacked her all the way to Sonoma," Crum said.

"Once they got to Quintero’s neighborhood, they pulled over in a shopping center across from Safeway where Quintero continued to attack and sexually assault her," Crum said. "While this occurred, Lopez-Flores walked to the gas station and bought a condom and then he got into the back seat and sexually assaulted the woman."

Evidence in the case was gathered by reviewing "countless" hours of surveillance video from various businesses and bridge cameras.

"In watching the video they identified one suspect who was seen at about the time of the crime, entering a gas station across the street from the crime scene in Sonoma," Crum said. "In this video he was seen purchasing a condom."

Numerous search warrants were also written, Crum said, one key warrant being for the victim’s cellular phone "which provided data telling detectives approximately when she crossed the Golden Gate Bridge."

Detectives used that information and wrote a warrant for Golden Gate Bridge District surveillance video which was ultimately supplied.

"While watching that video, detectives observed a black Dodge Magnum car with a specific blue neon license plate light," Crum said. "This Dodge Magnum with the neon light was also captured on video from various business surveillance systems in Sonoma."

A flier showing the car with its neon light was put out to local law enforcement agencies. The flier also showed the suspect in the gas station.

"An officer from the Novato Police Department recognized the suspect and distinctive vehicle from a recent unrelated arrest where he towed the suspect’s car," Crum said.

With that suspect identified as Lopez-Flores, Sonoma County detectives wrote a warrant for Lope-Flores cellphone records.

"These records indicated that Lopez-Flores was in San Francisco on the morning of April 14, 2018 and in the area where the victim was forced into the car and drove north across the Golden Gate Bridge to Sonoma at the same time the victim came to Sonoma," Crum said.

Detectives used probable cause to obtain a $2 million warrant for Lopez-Flores' arrest. He was taken into custody Friday in San Rafael where he works doing general labor, Crum said.

Detectives also determined that the morning of April 14, Lopez-Flores was with his friend, Quintero, who lives about a block away from where the alleged violent attack happened, Crum said.

A search warrant was served at Quintero’s home, where physical evidence of the crime was allegedly located.

Quintero was arrested Saturday at his workplace in Sonoma.

Both men were booked into the Sonoma County Jail on suspicion of numerous sex crimes and assault charges.

Lopez-Flores is being held on $2 million bail, while Quintero is being held without bail due to an alleged attempted murder charge associated with the case, Crum said.

"This investigation was very extensive and involved over 2,000 hours of staff time and approximately 20 search warrants written and issued," Crum said. "The investigation took detectives to nine different counties and required cooperation from numerous agencies and private businesses. We wish to thank everyone who helped solve this crime."

Photos courtesy Sonoma County Sheriff's Office