LOS ANGELES—Detectives from the Los Angeles Police Department’s Hollenbeck Division are seeking additional witnesses or victims of a sexual assault suspect who was incarcerated on Tuesday, May 9 in Boyle Heights to come forward.
Just after 10:30 a.m. on Saturday, May 6, Los Angeles resident James Melendez, 50, assaulted an unnamed female victim in the sacristy room of a church located on the 3300 block of Opal Street. Authorities indicated that the woman defended herself, upon which Melendez ran away, fleeing the church in his vehicle. Police reportedly located and impounded the vehicle later.
Melendez was detained and booked for assault with the intent to commit sexual assault. His bail was set at $100,000.
“For somebody to go onto a church property and physically attack a female, that’s unheard of. This kind of dangerous act, we believe that he could be a suspect in other cases,” Officer Tony Im of the LAPD told ABC 7 News.
Authorities have requested that additional victims or those with information that will assist detectives with their investigation to contact the Hollenbeck Area Detectives-Sex Crimes Detail at (323) 342-8995. Calls made on weekends or outside of business hours should be directed to 1-877-LAPD-24-7 (1-877-527-3247).
Those who prefer to remain anonymous are encouraged to contact L.A. Regional Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (800-222-8477) or visit http://www.lacrimestoppers.org.
