3 Held as Suspects in Rapes, Robberies

Police arrested three South Los Angeles residents Tuesday as suspects in a series of rapes, robberies and kidnapings committed in Playa del Rey, West Los Angeles, Silverlake and North Hollywood since early last month.

Sandy Lee Dejurnett, 32; Dewayne Thomas, 19, and a 17-year-old juvenile were arrested at their homes after an intensive investigation triggered by a traffic accident.

Lt. Don Foster of the Los Angeles Police Department’s Robbery Homicide Division said the crimes include six rapes, seven stolen vehicles, 10 kidnapings and forced oral copulation.

Most of the victims were lone women or young couples accosted on the street or in apartment parking areas. Investigators said the suspects would steal a vehicle, usually a van, and force the victims into it, where they were robbed.

After releasing the men, the women were driven to another location and raped, police said. In one case late last month, a 24-year-old man trying to protect his girlfriend was pistol-whipped in North Hollywood.

Investigators got a break in the case when the suspects were involved in an automobile accident at 59th Street and Crenshaw Boulevard after one of the crimes, and a witness recognized one of them running from the scene, police said. Search warrants were served at five residences on Tuesday and five guns were seized.