2 Suspects Facing Charges in Series of Robberies, Assaults of Women

Two men were charged Monday with multiple felony crimes in connection with a string of incidents earlier this year in which women were robbed at gunpoint and some were forced to withdraw money from automated teller machines, authorities said.

At least two of the women who were robbed were also sexually assaulted, said Det. Karen Crawford of the Los Angeles Police Department’s North Hollywood Division.

One of the accused men, Paul Brown, 21, of Los Angeles, was already in custody as a suspect in a separate crime, said Crawford, who would not reveal Brown’s criminal background. He was arrested Thursday on the new charges, Crawford said.

The other man charged, Tishika Roberts--also 21--was arrested Friday in Palmdale.

Multiple charges of robbery, kidnapping and sexual assault were filed by the Los Angeles district attorney’s office in Van Nuys, according to authorities.

The men allegedly struck six times, attacking eight victims, said Det. Tracey Angeles, also of the LAPD.

Investigators said more charges might be filed.

“This investigation will be ongoing until we have a disposition in the matter,” Angeles said.

The detectives said the crimes occurred between Feb. 8 and March 3--originating at apartment complexes near Lankershim Boulevard south of Magnolia Avenue. Brown and Roberts allegedly targeted women arriving at their apartments late at night or early in the morning, Crawford said. They would approach the women, using a revolver in the crimes, she said.

The first four incidents were solely robberies, in which the women were robbed at the scene or driven to area ATMs and forced to withdraw money, investigators said.

But the violence increased as time went on. The last two women robbed, said Crawford, were also sexually assaulted.

Investigators said Monday they could not reveal details about how they connected the suspects to the attacks because they did not want to compromise the case evidence. They said the men’s mug shots could not be released because that could taint a lineup to be conducted in the coming days.

“There’s very little I can disclose,” Crawford said.

Angeles said that a news conference held during the search for the attackers brought help from the public.

“Every single phone call helped us immensely . . . either to eliminate someone from the list or to focus [on likely suspects],” Crawford said.

Despite the arrests this week, authorities warned women to stay alert.

“Just because these two individuals are in custody does not mean women should let their guard down,” said Angeles.