An armed guard in Torrance is suspected of assaulting women who were homeless or addicted to drugs and forcing at least one of them into sexual activity in return for not reporting her for trespassing, authorities said.
Police began investigating the allegations in early December, officials said in a statement released this week.
After the first victim claimed she was coerced into sexual activity, Torrance police said they were able to identify two more victims. Detectives said they believe the suspect targeted homeless women specifically.
The guard was arrested on December 21, but police have not released the guard’s name. They only released a blurry photo and said they did not want to jeopardize the investigation, a statement from the department said.
Police have not released additional details about when the incidents took place or where the guard was working at the time. They also declined to answer further questions about the incidents or the suspect.
Anyone with information about the incidents is asked to contact the Torrance Police Department at (310) 328-3456.
