LONG BEACH, Calif – A man experiencing homelessness was arrested Monday after he allegedly sexually assaulted a woman in broad daylight on a Long Beach sidewalk.
It happened around 2 p.m. on Friday, Oct. 20, when Long Beach Police said officers were called out to the area of Linden Avenue and E. Broadway.
When they got there, they found a woman who said a man walked up to her from behind and assaulted her before running off. The entire thing was caught on surveillance footage.
FOX 11 got a chance to speak with the survivor of the attack. She called the incident “absolutely disgusting.”
“When I turned around, I did notice he started picking up his pants,” said Rebekah Pedersen. “If it wasn’t in broad daylight, and that [good Samaritan] was sitting there, [the suspect] would have raped me.”
Another surveillance camera captured the moments before the attack, as well as the alleged attacker’s face.
On Monday, the Long Beach police announced they’d arrested a suspect in the attack. Miguel Avila, 30, was arrested just after 5 p.m. near the intersection of Atlantic Avenue and Broadway.
He’s now facing charges of theft and sexual battery. His bail was set at $1,000. Long Beach Police said they’re still investigating the attack.
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