Serial Rape Plan Foiled By Victim, 3 East Bay Police Depts.: Cops

WALNUT CREEK, CA — A man who had careful plans to carry out a series of rapes, and had gathered the equipment needed to carry out his plan, picked the wrong woman to attack, according to Walnut Creek Police. Even after she was shot with a stun gun she fought back and called police. Now Matt Owen Caruso of Newark is in a Contra Costa County jail charged with attempted kidnapping with the intent to rape, assault with the intent to rape, and possession of child pornography. His bail is set at $1.1 million.

Walnut Creek Police report that the woman was attacked on March 26 at 7:20 a.m. in the 2000 Block of Camel Lane. In a release, they say,"The victim reported that while she was walking from her residence to her vehicle, she was approached and assaulted with a stun gun by an unknown male suspect. The victim was able to fight off her attacker and the suspect fled the scene in a newer silver Volkswagen sedan."

That afternoon, Fremont Police received a report of suspicious items that appeared to have been purposely discarded. Officers recovered the items and determined that they were related to the attack in Walnut Creek. "After further examination," Walnut Creek Police say, "the items included plans for and means to kidnap and sexually assault multiple female victims."

Caruso was identified as the suspect.

Walnut Creek and Newark Police arrested Caruso at his home in Newark the following day. Police say that during a search of his residence multiple guns and child pornography were recovered.

If you have information about Caruso or similar attacks, call Walnut Creek Police Detective G. Leonard or Detective G. Ezard at 925-943-5844.

In a social media posting Wednesday night, Fremont Police said, "Our detectives did a lot of work to assist with this investigation and we are proud of the coordination amongst all agencies involved."

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