Transient Held in Salon Attacks

A transient suspected of robbing 30 beauty salons has been arrested, ending a six-month crime spree during which beauty parlor workers and customers were terrorized, shot and sexually assaulted, police said Wednesday.

Walter Antonio Cortez, 26, described by detectives as a transient from Van Nuys, North Hills and Maywood, was arrested Tuesday night at 517 S. Rampart St., after police staked out the location for about five hours, LAPD Sgt. Juan Arroyo said.

Cortez was charged with murder, attempted murder, 11 counts of robbery, nine counts of false imprisonment, four counts of attempted rape, three counts of sexual battery, one count of sodomy and five counts of witness intimidation, Deputy Dist. Atty. Carol Fisch said.

Police had been looking for Cortez since Aug. 28. Authorities credited a partial license plate number reported by a witness with the identification of Cortez.

He was on probation for assault with a deadly weapon, and has an arrest record for spousal abuse, battery, stalking and burglary, police said.

Cortez has been linked with about 30 armed robberies at hair and nail salons since March 18, five of which involved sexual assaults in the San Fernando Valley, Arroyo said.

Cortez would pose as a customer, at times make a purchase and then leave, Arroyo said. Cortez would then return and rob, rape and sometimes sexually assault lone store operators, according to the charges.

While trying to rob the Happy Times party store in the 3600 block of W. 3rd Street just west of downtown, Cortez allegedly shot the pregnant owner three times and fled, Arroyo said. Although not hit, the fetus died later due to complications resulting from the mother’s wounds, Arroyo said. The mother is still recovering from her injuries.

In another incident near downtown Los Angeles, Cortez allegedly shot and seriously wounded a person for looking at him, Arroyo said. With the exception of the allegations of murder and attempted murder, the majority of the crimes occurred in the Valley, Arroyo said.

The 5-foot-10, 165-pound Cortez was involved in robberies and rapes in North Hollywood and Van Nuys and possibly other holdups in the Pacoima and Canoga Park areas, police alleged.

Arroyo said police believe that Cortez was working alone.