Los Angeles: Los Angeles Police Department detectives from Robbery-Homicide Division, Operations-Central Bureau and Operations-West Bureau sexual assault units, along with motor officers from West Traffic Division's Directed Enforcement Team, arrested a suspect believed to be involved in a series of sexual assault crimes that began last August.

On Thursday night at approximately 10:00 p.m., detectives working the Korea Town Task Force saw a man matching the suspect's description riding a bicycle. He had in his possession a shoulder bag similar in appearance to a bag described by some of the victims. In earlier crimes, the suspect concealed a handgun in his bag. As the officers attempted to stop the suspect, he left his bicycle on the sidewalk and ran from them. After a brief foot pursuit, responding detectives and motor officers cornered him in the parking lot of a motel located at 5th and Alexandria Streets. Once surrounded the man surrendered without further incident. The shoulder bag and a gun were recovered.

The suspect is Los Angeles resident Quintman Patterson, a 20 year-old male Black, described as 6'-1" tall, and weighing 225 pounds. He was arrested at 501 South Alexandria Street and booked for four counts of rape. He is being held at the Parker Center Jail. His bail is $1,400,000.

There are believed to be nine crimes in this series of attacks, including a rape that occurred in the City of Beverly Hills and another rape in the City of Glendale. In both those crimes the victims were returning from the Korea Town area. In all of the crimes a male Black suspect was armed with a semi-automatic handgun. DNA evidence has positively linked four of the crimes to the same suspect. Composite drawings of their attacker were done based on descriptions by several of the victims.

This is an ongoing investigation. Today and throughout the weekend the investigation will include the collection of additional evidence, further interviews of victims and completion of the DNA analysis. Detectives from the Rape Special Section of Robbery-Homicide Division are the lead investigators and will work with investigators from Beverly Hills and Glendale Police Departments in the follow-up investigation.

The case will be presented to the District Attorney on Monday, May 23, 2005.

Anyone with additional information about these crimes is encouraged to call the 24-hour toll free number at the Detective Information Desk at 1-877-LAWFULL (1-877-529-3855).