A suspect who broke into a Windsor Square home on January 29 and attempted to rape a female occupant was arrested the following day after patrol officers recognized him from a description the victim provided. Investigators are now trying to determine whether the suspect is involved in any similar crimes in the local area.

The attempted rape occurred around 1:40pm in the 100 block of S. Van Ness Avenue. The suspect, John Christopher Munoz, 19, allegedly climbed on to the roof of a garage to gain access to a balcony, where he forced open a window and entered the residence. Munoz allegedly attempted to sexually assault a 56-year-old woman inside the house, but the victim fought him off and Munoz fled the same way he entered.

The police conducted an extensive search of the surrounding neighborhood that included a K-9 Unit and forensic criminalists who searched for trace evidence.

“We actually had an around the clock lookout for the suspect,” said Det. Kurt Wachter, with the LAPD’s Operations West Bureau, Sexual Assault Detail. “It was a very high priority that we find him.”

Wachter said around 2:00pm on January 30, two officers from the LAPD’s Olympic Division recognized a man fitting the suspect’s description near the corner of Gramercy Place and 8th Street. The suspect was detained and taken to the police station, where the victim was helping to create a police sketch of the suspect.

“He had some scratches on his face that led us to believe he was the suspect,” Wacheter said. “We had the victim here and she positively identified him.”

Munoz was charged with seven felonies that include attempted rape, burglary and assault. He is currently in custody in lieu of $2,420,000 bail.

Wachter said investigators do not have any evidence currently linking Munoz to other sexual assaults, but based on his method of operation in gaining access to the residence, they believe he may have committed similar crimes.

“Oftentimes with sexual assaults, the victim does not report the crimes. We also have the detectives who work burglary looking into the case to see if they have any crimes that may fit the profile,” Wachter added.

Anyone who may have been a victim or has any information on the crimes is asked to contact investigators with the Operations West Bureau, Sexual Assault Detail at (213)473-0447.

A suspect who broke into a Windsor Square home on January 29 and attempted to rape a female occupant was arrested the following day after patrol officers recognized him from a description the victim provided. Investigators are now trying to determine whether the suspect is involved in any similar crimes in the local area.

The attempted rape occurred around 1:40pm in the 100 block of S. Van Ness Avenue. The suspect, John Christopher Munoz, 19, allegedly climbed on to the roof of a garage to gain access to a balcony, where he forced open a window and entered the residence. Munoz allegedly attempted to sexually assault a 56-year-old woman inside the house, but the victim fought him off and Munoz fled the same way he entered.

The police conducted an extensive search of the surrounding neighborhood that included a K-9 Unit and forensic criminalists who searched for trace evidence.

“We actually had an around the clock lookout for the suspect,” said Det. Kurt Wachter, with the LAPD’s Operations West Bureau, Sexual Assault Detail. “It was a very high priority that we find him.”

Wachter said around 2:00pm on January 30, two officers from the LAPD’s Olympic Division recognized a man fitting the suspect’s description near the corner of Gramercy Place and 8th Street. The suspect was detained and taken to the police station, where the victim was helping to create a police sketch of the suspect.

“He had some scratches on his face that led us to believe he was the suspect,” Wacheter said. “We had the victim here and she positively identified him.”

Munoz was charged with seven felonies that include attempted rape, burglary and assault. He is currently in custody in lieu of $2,420,000 bail.

Wachter said investigators do not have any evidence currently linking Munoz to other sexual assaults, but based on his method of operation in gaining access to the residence, they believe he may have committed similar crimes.

“Oftentimes with sexual assaults, the victim does not report the crimes. We also have the detectives who work burglary looking into the case to see if they have any crimes that may fit the profile,” Wachter added.

Anyone who may have been a victim or has any information on the crimes is asked to contact investigators with the Operations West Bureau, Sexual Assault Detail at (213)473-0447.