Suspect Charged in Rape of 2 Girls
A 19-year-old Carson man was charged Thursday in the rapes of two teen-age girls at South Bay schools, authorities said.
Michael Roman Hartsdale was arrested Tuesday at his home in the 300 block of Palm Court by Torrance and Redondo Beach police. He was formally charged with rape, oral copulation and kidnaping for purposes of sex on Thursday.
“We felt there was a similarity between Redondo’s rape and ours,” said Lt. Wally Murker of the Torrance police, explaining how the two departments worked together on the case.
Hartsdale allegedly assaulted a 15-year-old girl at Redondo Union High School in June and a 17-year-old girl at Victor Elementary School in Torrance last week. Both victims were abducted from the street and attacked on school grounds, Murker said.
Authorities said bail was set at $300,000. Hartsdale was being held in the Los Angeles County Jail.
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