A man suspected of sexually assaulting a woman at a bus stop at Manchester and Normandie avenues was charged Wednesday with attempted murder and other charges, the District Attorney’s Office announced.
Allen Phillip Crews, 22, was arraigned at the Foltz Criminal Justice Center, Department 30. Prosecutors asked that bail be set at $1.56 million.
Crews is charged with one felony count each of attempted murder, assault with intent to commit a felony, sexual penetration by a foreign object and assault by means likely to produce great bodily injury.
Deputy District Attorney Jane Creighton with the Sex Crimes Division said Crews, a transient, allegedly attacked a 50-year-old woman early Monday morning. LAPD Officer Roger Aguirre saw an injured and unconscious woman on a bus bench and spotted a man fleeing the scene. The woman’s head and face were bloodied from head trauma and her state of undress indicated that a sexual assault had taken place, or might have been just aborted by the officer’s arrival. Police arrested Crews following a search.
LAPD is continuing the investigation and if convicted, Crews facing more than 25 years to life in prison.
Police originally believed the suspect was linked to the previous three sexual assaults in the area, but after interviewing Crews they determined the suspect was only involved in one assault, according to LAPD Officer Bruce Borihanh.
Two women were attacked Friday morning in the area of Western and Manchester avenues by a man with a fake gun, said Aguirre. “One woman fought back and grabbed the gun,” he said. “She realized it was fake and hit him in the head with it.”
A 72-year-old woman was raped in her home in the same area Friday night when a man matching the description of the earlier rape suspect persuaded her to open her door to give him a glass of water, and he pushed his way inside, Aguirre said.
City News Service contributed to this story.
