On October 10, 2012 at approximately 4:50 a.m. a female victim reported that she was physically and sexually assaulted as she was running along the 800 block of the beach between Lifeguard Tower 8 and the waterline. The victim fought off her attacker and ran to safety as the suspect walked off. A composite drawing of the suspect was completed and an exhaustive search for the suspect began.
On October 17, 2012 at approximately 5:30 a.m. Pier / harbor Officers patrolling the north beach area, observed a possible suspect in the general area of the crime. The suspect was detained; after additional investigation, the suspect was arrested. The suspect has been identified as Brandon Cross, a 36 year old Chino resident.
On Friday, October 20, 2012, investigators presented the case to the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office at the LAX Court. After reviewing the case, the District Attorney’s Office filed one count of attempted murder, two counts of forcible rape, one count of sexual penetration by a foreign object, one count of assault by means likely to produce great bodily injury and resisting officers. Bail was set at $1,350,000 and the Preliminary Hearing is set for November 12, 2012 at 8:30 a.m. in Division 142 of the LAX Court.
The investigation is ongoing and given that this incident may not have been a singular event, the Santa Monica Police Department is asking anyone else who may have been a victim or who has additional information to contact Detective Phillip DeRyck at (310) 458-8944, Sergeant Darrick Jacob at (310) 458-8460 or the Santa Monica Police Department (24hours) at (310) 458-8495.
