Pacific Area Arrests Rape Suspect

LOS ANGELES POLICE DEPARTMENT
PRESS RELEASE
Thursday, December 17, 1998
Pacific Area Locates and Arrests Rape Suspect

In the early morning hours of October 18, 1998, a female victim was raped in the rear bedroom of a residence located in the 700 block of Broadway Avenue in Venice. The victim attended a party at the location earlier and had fallen asleep in the rear bedroom.

The suspect entered the residence through an unlocked window. The victim was beaten and sexually assaulted by the suspect. When the party hosts returned to the residence, they found the suspect attacking the victim. The suspect fled the location.

Investigators determined that the suspect had attended the party earlier in the evening. A crime alert and a composite drawing of the suspect was distributed to Pacific Area Police Officers who immediately launched a search for the suspect who was believed to be a local beach transient.

On Saturday, December 5, 1998, a witness in the case observed the suspect in the Venice Beach area and immediately notified the police. The suspect was subsequently located and arrested.

The District Attorney’s Office filed four felony counts of rape on the defendant. He is currently waiting his preliminary hearing court date.

The defendant has been identified as Ben Borhane Abdallah a resident of Venice Beach.

For Release 8:15 am PST
December 17, 1998