Full Notification

Between December 2012 and June 2014, a series of sexual batteries and assaults occurred in the unincorporated area of Covina.  After incidents on April 11 and June 20, 2014, a male was identified and arrested. Subsequent interviews and investigation led to the arrest of 18 year old Alexander Lorenzo Sandoval, a resident of the Covina area.

The incidents began on December 20, 2012.  At about 10:15 p.m., a 28 year old woman was retrieving a laptop from her car in the carport of an apartment complex in the 21000 block of Arrow Highway.   A man approached her from behind, covered her mouth with his hand, and rubbed against her body in a sexual manner.  When the woman tried to escape, the man pushed her against her car, then onto the ground. She did not see her attacker clearly and was unable to describe him.  On January 25, 2013, at 12:40 p.m. at the same apartment complex, a similar attack occurred.  A 23 year old woman was retrieving items from her car when she was approached from behind.  The man placed his hand over her mouth, then threw her to the ground. 

On February 25, 2013, at 8:35 a.m. a 29 year old woman was jogging on Cienega Avenue near Treanor Street when a man approached her from behind, covered her mouth, pushed her into a wall, and fondled her.  The man fled on foot when a passing motorist honked.  On April 14, 2013, at about 8:05 a.m. in the same area, a 30 year old woman was punched and kicked without provocation.  A man approached her from behind, pushed her into a wall and to the ground, and kicked her while she was on the ground.  The woman was five months pregnant.

Based on these four incidents, investigators assembled a composite sketch of the suspect.  After scouring the area and following several leads, they were unable to locate the suspect.  Female detectives walked the area in hopes of luring the suspect, to no avail. 

Alexander Lorenzo Sandoval was among the suspects detectives initially located and interviewed.  He denied involvement, and though he closely resembled the sketch, witnesses were unable to identify him in a lineup.  No charges were filed at that time.    

One year later, on April 11, 2014, at about 8:30 p.m., a 47 year old woman was walking near Nubia Street and Treanor Avenue in Covina.  A man approached her from behind, covered her mouth, and groped her buttocks.  On June 20, 2014, the victim from the April 11 attack saw the suspect following her as she walked in the 21100 block of Nubia Street.  She notified the Sheriff’s Department. 

Based on her description, responding deputies located the suspect, Alexander Sandoval, at the apartment complex in the 21000 block of Arrow Highway.  The deputies recognized the similarity between Sandoval and the composite drawing.  The woman positively identified Sandoval as the person who assaulted her on April 11, 2014.  He was arrested and booked at the San Dimas Sheriff’s Station.

During subsequent interviews, Sandoval admitted to committing all of these acts, and wrote a letter of apology.  On June 24, 2014, charges were filed by the District Attorney’s office in regards to Sandoval, including sexual battery and felony assault.  Some of the charges were filed in juvenile court, since some of the incidents occurred before Sandoval’s 18th birthday in October 2013. He is being held without bail in the Los Angeles County Jail, with a next court appearance scheduled for July 17, 2014 in the Pomona courthouse.

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SAN DIMAS STATION

San Dimas Sheriff’s Station is one of six stations within the East Patrol Division of the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department. The Station’s jurisdiction encompasses approximately 276 square miles. In addition to serving the City of San Dimas, the station serves unincorporated communities of Azusa, Covina, Glendora, La Verne, Claremont, Pomona, the Los Angeles County portion of Mt. Baldy, a large portion of the Angeles National Forest (State Route 39), and portions of Angeles Crest Highway (Highway 2). The population for these areas is approximately one hundred and five thousand (105,000), nearly sixty sixty-nine thousand (69,000) in the unincorporated areas and more than thirty-six thousand (36,000) in the City of San Dimas.

San Dimas Sheriff’s Station

Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department

270 S. Walnut Avenue

San Dimas, CA 91773

(909) 450-2700

San Dimas Sheriff’s Station will be using Nextdoor.com to facilitate virtual neighborhood watch and foster ... View more neighbor-to-neighbor communications.

Nextdoor is a tool for us to effectively share information on crime prevention and safety, public events, and emergency notifications. You can expect to receive local crime and safety updates from the San Dimas Sheriff’s Station on Nextdoor. Please be assured that your website remains private. Sheriff’s personnel will not be able to see any of the content on your neighborhood website, except for the direct replies to our posts.

Please be aware that Nextdoor is not the appropriate way to request emergency services, police services, report criminal or suspicious activity, file a report, etc. If you require emergency services, please call 911. For non-emergency concerns, please call the San Dimas Sheriff’s Station business line at (909) 450-2700.

We look forward to connecting with you on Nextdoor to build stronger, safer neighborhoods throughout the Sheriff’s San Dimas Station policing areas.
 

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John L. Scott, Sheriff

Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department