Man Held in Rape of Elderly Woman

A man suspected of sexually assaulting a 90-year-old Los Angeles woman was chased and held for police by a paramedic who responded to her medical alert button, police said Tuesday.

Eduardo Rodriguez, 32, will be arraigned today in downtown Los Angeles.

He faces one count each of forcible rape, first-degree burglary, attempted first-degree residential robbery and elder abuse, according to a spokeswoman for the district attorney’s office.

Prosecutors will ask that Rodriguez’s bail be set at $1 million.

The attack occurred at 5:20 p.m., Monday on Mt. Washington, police said.

“The victim was on her patio when she was approached by the suspect,” said LAPD Officer La Donna Cissell. “The suspect pushed the victim inside her residence demanding jewelry and money. The suspect proceeded to batter and sexually attack the victim. During the struggle, the victim was able to activate her emergency medical alert button that hung from her neck.”

After the Fire Department received the medical alert activation notice, a dispatcher attempted to call the victim, Cissell said. The dispatcher called a neighbor, who walked to the victim’s residence.

“As the neighbor approached, she could hear the victim crying for help,” Cissell said. “The neighbor observed the suspect assaulting the victim and yelled at him to stop. The suspect ran from the location as paramedics arrived.”

Paramedic Paul Cajiao chased the suspect and, with the assistance of two neighbors, detained him until police arrived.

The LAPD Robbery-Homicide Division’s rape section was assigned to the case.

The victim, who also suffered an injured forearm and a bruise on one eye, was hospitalized in stable condition.