LAPD arrest man suspected in three violent carjacking attempts in one day
Police arrested a man Thursday who allegedly attacked multiple women in Los Angeles in the last week during attempted carjackings.
Surveillance video shows the suspect assaulting women in parking lots in downtown L.A. and in Lincoln Heights. In all of the cases, the women fought him off and escaped.
At 10:40 a.m. on Saturday, the suspect, identified as 49-year-old Maurice Latorre, approached a woman at a gas station on the 3200 block of North Broadway, Los Angeles police said.
He pushed his way into her car, demanding her keys, police said. The woman was able to push the suspect out of the car. Police say the suspect then fled.
About 1:50 p.m., the suspect encountered a group of women in a parking lot. Again, he demanded the keys to the vehicle, struggled with the driver and ran away after failing, police say.
At 4:55 p.m., the suspect accosted a woman at another gas station. Security video shows a struggle as the suspect pulls the victim out of her car and she fights him off with the help of a bystander before getting back into the vehicle. He fled on a silver bicycle.
A manhunt was underway following the attempted carjackings, and police described the suspect as violent and dangerous.
No details were provided on Latorre’s arrest.
Public records show him residing in Little Bangladesh until 2004, when his housing record stops.
Sign up for Essential California
The most important California stories and recommendations in your inbox every morning.
You may occasionally receive promotional content from the Los Angeles Times.
