LOS ANGELES (KTLA) – A man posing as a childcare worker who lured a teenage girl into his vehicle and sexually assaulted her late last year is in custody, and detectives believe there may be additional victims.
In a news release, authorities at the Los Angeles Police Department said the suspect, identified as L.A. resident Derrick Dwayne Thompson, approached a 15-year-old girl waiting at a bus stop on Nov. 30.
Thompson reportedly pulled up in a black Chevrolet Suburban equipped with a sign on the door that read “CJ Angels Child Care.”
“The suspect told the victim he worked for Child Services and offered the victim a ride home,” police said. “Believing the suspect worked for Child Services, the victim entered the vehicle.”
Investigators did not provide any details on the location of the incident, nor did they say how far Thompson drove the victim before pulling into a parking lot, ordering the teenage girl to get in the backseat and removing the childcare sign from the door of the Suburban.
“The suspect got into the backseat with the victim, removed her clothing and sexually assaulted her,” the release detailed.
Thompson, who is being held without bail, was eventually arrested on Jan. 15 and the case was handed over to the L.A. County District Attorney’s Office for filing consideration.
The suspect has since been formally charged by the DA’s office with forceable rape, sodomy by use of force with a victim 14 or older and sexual penetration by force on a minor victim 14 or older.
Detectives believe there may be additional victims and have released a photo of Thompson and the sign he used on the side of the black Suburban in hopes others will come forward.
Anyone who may have been a victim or has additional information regarding the investigation is asked to contact LAPD’s Juvenile Division at 424-259-7097. Those wishing to remain anonymous can call the L.A. Regional Crime Stoppers Hotline at 800-222-8477 or leave tips online at www.lacrimestoppers.org.
