Police Arrest 9 Suspects in Gang Rape of Teenager

More than a month after a 17-year-old girl was assaulted in a 12-hour gang rape at the Jordan Downs housing project in Watts, nine of the 23 suspected gang members believed involved have been arrested, police said Wednesday.

The suspects were arrested Tuesday in a 15-location raid at the housing project and two undisclosed places outside Los Angeles.

The girl was described by officers as a “brave young lady” for coming forth immediately after the Nov. 12 ordeal, then enduring a 34-day investigation that forced her to relive the crime in detail on numerous occasions.

The girl is not a resident of the gang-infested housing project where citizens often avoid police cooperation for fear of retaliation. She was apparently visiting friends and family who live there, and was abducted and taken to a vacant two-bedroom apartment known as a gang hangout, police said.

“She is obviously traumatized but she is still willing to cooperate,” said Det. Jesse Alvarado. “She is the case. She is the evidence.”

The girl was abducted at gunpoint by a small group of captors at 8 a.m. and remained captive until about 8:30 p.m., as other gang members were called to join the assault, police believe.

After the assault, the victim was found by a friend in the vacant apartment. The friend who called police and two patrol officers rescued the victim.

Officers declined to release the suspects’ names. They said two boys, ages 15 and 17, were arrested with the seven men, the oldest of whom is 34.

Another man was arrested on unrelated charges. A small cache of weapons, cocaine, marijuana and $4,100 in cash were seized.

Alvarado said it is difficult to imagine that the rape went unnoticed by all neighbors. He said that if anyone heard something, they probably were afraid to call police.

“A small group of gang members can hold the good people who live there hostage,” he said. “But I understand they have to live with the gang members every day.”