Man accused of trying to strangle, rape woman in Glendale hotel

A 29-year-old transient was arrested early Monday on suspicion of attempting to strangle and rape a Florida woman in a Glendale hotel room, police said.

Wesley Smith was taken into custody about 2 a.m. in connection with attempting to rape the 35-year-old woman inside the Extended Stay America hotel on the 1300 block of West Glenoaks Boulevard, Glendale Police Sgt. Tom Lorenz said.

The woman, whose name wasn’t released, was visiting the area and looking for a hotel in downtown Los Angeles where she met Smith, Lorenz said. She thought she had met Smith seven years ago at a gathering and offered him a place to stay the night. They went back to the Glendale hotel, where, at some point during the night, he allegedly forced himself on her, Lorenz said.

Smith choked her several times, but she was able to fight him off and break free, Lorenz said. She ran into the hotel lobby to get help, and police were called.

Meanwhile, Lorenz said Smith escaped from a window in the hotel room.

Police later found and arrested Smith, who Lorenz said denied the incident.

-- Veronica Rocha, Times Community News

Follow Veronica Rocha on Google+ and on Twitter: @VeronicaRochaLA.