On November 14, 2014 detectives of the Pleasanton Police Department Criminal Investigations Unit, in conjunction with the East County Tactical Team, which is made up of members from Pleasanton and Livermore, served a search and arrest warrant in Oakland, CA. Arrested was Rashad Joshua Costello, a 24 year old male from Oakland. He was arrested for 261 PC – Forcible Rape, 2 counts of 211 PC – Robbery, 2 Counts of 288a PC – Forced Oral Copulation, 245 PC – Assault with a deadly weapon, 459 PC – Burglary, 220 PC – Assault with intent to commit rape, and 422 PC – Criminal Threats. Costello was booked into Santa Rita Jail on these charges. No injuries occurred during the arrest.
This arrest and search warrant were the culmination of two separate investigations where Costello was identified as the suspect. The first crime occurred on October 6, 2014 at approximately 5:52 p.m. when Pleasanton police officers were dispatched to investigate the report of a robbery at a local motel.
The victim told officers she is a prostitute and had arranged for a male to meet her at the motel to provide services. The victim opened the motel room door for the suspect and he immediately removed a handgun he had concealed in his waistband. The suspect then robbed the victim of her money and IPad, and forcibly raped her. After the suspect left the room the victim contacted a nearby guest who reported the crime.
The second case occurred on November 5, 2014 at approximately 2:00 p.m. Pleasanton Police responded to a call of a man with a gun at a local hotel. Upon arrival, offices contacted the victim who told them she is a prostitute and had arranged for a male to meet her at the hotel to provide services. When the suspect arrived at the hotel the victim was initially reluctant to open the door for him. Talking through the door, the suspect convinced the victim to unlock the door, at which time he forced his way into the room striking the victim in the face with the swinging door. Once inside he produced a handgun and threatened the victim. When the victim began screaming the suspect struck the victim in the face with the handgun and told her to “shut up.” He demanded all of her money and then forced the victim to perform sexual acts at gun point. After a few minutes the victim seized an opportunity to escape out of the door of the hotel room. She ran down the hallway screaming and was directed into an adjacent room that was currently being cleaned by housekeeping staff, who then called 911. The suspect left the room, ran down the hallway and left the scene. Recovered from the hallway through which the suspect fled was a black airsoft handgun believed to have been dropped by the suspect.
Costello was identified as the suspect in these cases by DNA evidence. He was also positively identified in a line-up by both victims, who had no prior knowledge of Costello before he victimized them. Evidence recovered at Costello’s residence links him to both crimes. In each case Costello contacted his victims via an internet based bulletin board advertising “escort” services.
If anyone has additional information that would assist in the prosecution of Costello for these crimes, they are encouraged to contact Pleasanton PD at (925) 931-5100.
