Detectives have arrested a 33-year-old man suspected of sexually assaulting two female joggers in Palmdale, authorities said Wednesday.
Heriberto Romero of Palmdale was arrested Tuesday evening, according to Deputy Ryan Rouzan of the Sheriff’s Information Bureau.
Romero is suspected of attacking and sexually assaulting a 20-year-old woman who was jogging about 9:30 p.m. on Jan. 15 at Pelona Vista Park, Rouzan said.
“The suspect approached the victim from behind and threw her to the ground,” Rouzan said. “Despite the victim’s attempts to fight off the suspect, he began to sexually assault her.”
The attack stopped after the suspect saw or heard someone in the park, Rouzan said.
Detectives believed that Romero was the attacker, but lacked “evidence to proceed with the case,” according to Rouzan.
The second incident occurred about 5:30 p.m. on Sept. 15 as a 24-year- old woman was jogging along the California Aqueduct, Rouzan said.
The suspect jumped out from some bushes where he had been hiding, threw the woman to the ground, forcibly held her down and sexually assaulted her, Rouzan said.
“The victim began to fight back against the suspect, which resulted in the suspect ending his assault and fleeing the location,” Rouzan said.
Detectives on Tuesday identified Romero as the suspect in the latest attack and arrested him.
Romero was booked at the sheriff’s Palmdale Station on suspicion of kidnapping and assault with intent to commit rape and was being held in lieu of $1 million bail, Rouzan said.
Detectives believe Romero may have victimized others and asked anyone with information to call the Sheriff’s Special Victims Bureau at (877) 710- LASD.
— City News Service