LOS ANGELES—The LAPD announced on Friday, October 13, investigators with the Los Angeles Police Department’s Operations-West Bureau’s Special Assault Section (SAS) are asking for additional victims and witnesses in a series of sexual assaults in the Koreatown area to come forward.
The LAPD reported on September 29, a 20-year-old woman reported that she was abducted and sexually assaulted by a suspect, later identified Matthew Scott Reyes, 38, in the area of 3rd Street and Western Avenue. Reyes was subdued by a passerby and was hospitalized due to the injuries he sustained. When the officers arrived at scene, the suspect was taken into custody by LAPD Olympic Area patrol officers.
Photo courtesy of LAPD.
Detective follow-up investigations linked Reyes to two other sexual assaults in the area, in the previous month. On October 4, SAS detectives arrested Reyes and on October 6, the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s office filed six felony counts against Reyes, including two counts each of rape, forced oral copulation, and robbery. He remains in police custody with a bail of $1.5 million. A preliminary hearing setting is scheduled October 19 in Dept. 35 at the Clara Shortridge Foltz Criminal Justice Center.
Investigators identified three women whom Reyes assaulted, but believe there are others that have yet to come forward. Reyes is a Filipino male, with brown eyes and black hair. His hair is shaved on the sides and worn in a ponytail with the tip dyed red. He stands 5 feet and 9 inches tall and weighs approximately 160 pounds. He was employed as a security guard and may have worn dark clothing resembling a security uniform during the assaults. At the time of his arrest, Reyes was driving a white Toyota Corolla.
“He preyed upon young women by luring them into a false sense of security before he shockingly attacked them,” said Detective Asia Hodge, Officer-in-Charge of SAS. “Tragically, victims like that are often too shaken up to come forward and report what happened because they’re afraid of retaliation. Now that he’s off the streets, we hope they’ll feel comfortable speaking up and putting a stop to this.”
Detectives are asking anyone with details that could lead to the identification of additional victims or witnesses to contact LAPD’s Operations-West Bureau, Special Assault Section, at (213) 473-0447. During non-business hours or on weekends, calls should be directed to 1-877-LAPD-24-7 (1-877-527-3247). Anyone wanting remain anonymous should call the LA Regional Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (800-222-8477) or go directly to www.lacrimestoppers.org.
