LAPD Officer Accused in Rape Case Surrenders

A Los Angeles police officer assigned to the Foothill Division surrendered to authorities Thursday on charges that he raped a woman last month in Pasadena’s Old Town.

Officer Mark Mireles, 29, of Pasadena is scheduled to be arraigned July 5 on charges stemming from the May 18 attack on the woman, a former baby-sitter for Mireles’ children.

Pasadena Police Cmdr. Mary Schander said the attack occurred after the victim ran into Mireles at a billiard parlor where she was celebrating her 21st birthday and he asked her to go for a walk about 1:45 a.m.

The woman, who had not seen Mireles for three years, agreed to the walk, but said she panicked when Mireles led her to a secluded patio behind a business in the 100 block of East Holly Street where he allegedly began kissing her and then allegedly forced her to have sex.