SANTA MONICA—On Tuesday, June 17, Lt. Lewis Gilmour, Executive Officer – PIO from the Santa Monica Police Department informed Canyon News that a suspect involved in an attempted sexual assault was arrested.
The SMPD reported on June 5, at approximately 9:30 p.m. officers responded to a
call of a woman screaming for help near the intersection of 6th Street and Wilshire
Boulevard.
Upon arrival, officers located an 84-year-old Santa Monica resident who appeared to be in distress. The victim indicated that she was approached and grabbed from behind by a male suspect who then dragged her into a nearby alley and attempted to sexually assault her.
Multiple witnesses at the scene came forward and corroborated the victim’s account.
They observed the suspect flee northbound from the area. Officers quickly located and detained the suspect near 5th Street and California Avenue.
The suspect was identified as Pape Tall, 39, of Long Beach. On June 9, the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office filed felony charges against Tall, including kidnapping with intent to commit rape (209(b)(1) PC), assault with intent to commit rape (220(a)(1) PC), and violation of probation. Tall remains in custody of the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department without bail with a court appearance scheduled for July 9.
The SMPD is asking anyone with additional details about this incident to contact Detective Maricela Orta at (310) 458-2293 (maricela.orta@santamonica.gov), Sergeant Chad Goodwin at (310) 458-8931, or the Watch Commander’s desk at (310) 458-8427, available 24 hours a day.
By Danny Jones