Police Chase Homeless Man Sought for Questioning in Rape

A homeless man wanted for questioning in a rape case led police on a chase through the Ventura River bottom Wednesday and ended up in custody on suspicion of evading arrest and arson.

The man, whom authorities were unable to identify by late Wednesday, matched the description of the assailant in a rape Tuesday. But officers were still unsure if the suspect was involved in the sexual assault.

Officers first tried to stop and question the man about 11:30 a.m. But he ran, hiding in the thick brush, said Ventura Police Lt. Brad Talbot.

A Sheriff’s Department helicopter, as well as rangers and lifeguards from Emma Wood State Park, helped police track the man.

It took officers almost an hour to pinpoint the man’s hiding spot in the thick brush, and when they did, the suspect started a small fire, said Ventura Police Sgt. Bill Bogner.

Police believe the man wanted to use the blaze as a distraction. Instead it only smoldered and helped authorities find him.

“We actually ended up tracking him down by watching the smoke,” Bogner said.

As the officers closed in, the helicopter hovered over his hiding spot, blowing back the thick brush.

He was handcuffed and escorted to a patrol car. But just as officers were preparing to put him in the vehicle, the man again ran from them.

He was quickly caught and taken to the Ventura police station for questioning. Unsure whether the man was connected to the rape, officers continued to hold him on suspicion of evading arrest and arson, authorities said.