The Region - News from Oct. 24, 1985

Hawthorne police have set up a task force to catch a rapist dubbed the “Steak Knife Man,” who is suspected of 16 crimes, including rapes, robberies and a kidnaping. Police Chief Kenneth Stonebraker said most of the crimes have taken place in the last year in carport or garage areas. Most of the victims have been black or Asian women. Police said the man, who has brandished a steak knife or handgun, is black, 25 to 30 years old, between 5-9 and 6-feet tall, has a medium build and weighs 140 to 160 pounds. The most recent attack occurred Monday night in the security gated underground parking area of an apartment house in the 12800 block of Doty Avenue. The man attacked a woman getting out of her car, held a knife to her throat, twice tried to rape her, stole her purse and fled, police said.