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Top L.A. building official placed on leave amid rape investigation

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The general manager of the Los Angeles Department of Building and Safety has been placed on administrative leave by Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa amid a police investigation into a rape allegation made against him.

Detectives with the Los Angeles Police Department are investigating allegations by a woman who says Andrew Adelman raped her last month at his downtown condominium, according to court documents obtained Tuesday. Adelman has not been arrested or charged.

Adelman’s attorney, Mark Geragos, stressed that the accusations have not been proved.

“It’s unfortunate that . . . an investigation has been made public before any determination of the validity of the allegations have been made,” he told The Times.

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The woman told investigators that she had gone with friends on a “pub crawl” July 10 in the downtown area, had several drinks and then blacked out, according to a July 28 search warrant issued by the Police Department.

When she awoke the next morning, the victim told police, she was being sexually assaulted by a man she later identified as Adelman. The suspect then drove her to her car, the affidavit alleges.

In a letter to Adelman, the mayor said: “You are being placed on administrative leave effective immediately. Please be reminded that your employment is at will and may be terminated at any time.”

andrew.blankstein@latimes.com

richard.winton@latimes.com

Staff writer David Zahniser contributed to this report.

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