Man Is Arrested in Kidnaping and Rape of Teen-Age Job-Seeker
An East Los Angeles man was in jail Sunday for investigation of kidnaping a 16-year old girl on the pretense of finding her a job.
Los Angeles police said Frank Palomino, 37, was arrested Saturday after his alleged victim spotted him in another car as detectives were returning her to the city from Tijuana.
Hollenbeck Division Detective John Santy said Palomino, on Thursday, told the girl and her aunt that he would take them to places where they could find jobs. He dropped the aunt off at one location and then sped off with the girl to Tijuana.
Investigators allege the suspect raped her in a motel room and held her there against her will. Despite the presence of another man who was guarding the motel room, the girl--who had come to the United States from her native Mexico two months ago--was able to escape and summon help, Santy said.
After being alerted by Tijuana authorities, two Los Angeles detectives went to Tijuana to return her to Los Angeles for questioning, Santy said. As they were driving back on Interstate 5, the girl spotted Palomino driving alongside them. The detectives pulled the car over and took Palmonio into custody.
He was being held in lieu of $7,500 bail at Parker Center Jail.
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