An ex-con accused of forcing a woman to cook for him while he allegedly took drugs before taking off on her beach cruiser was arrested on an unrelated drug charge this week, police said.
Detectives arrested Thomas Walker, who police described as a homeless man, after they received a tip from the public after media reports of the crime, police said.
The person who reported the tip to police said the suspect wearing clothing that had been described in the media reports abandoned the bike in her apartment complex.
The suspect had apparently returned to her apartment complex looking for the abandoned bike, police said.
Police then learned that Walker had been in custody since Wednesday, after he allegedly sold drugs to undercover officers working a sting blocks away from where the original crimes occurred.
The suspect allegedly entered the victim’s home via an unlocked door on Monday morning, police said.
Once inside, the suspect allegedly stole $100 from the woman’s purse while she slept. When the suspect was confronted by the victim’s son, the suspect took off, police said.
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That afternoon, the suspect allegedly returned to the same complex and entered a different apartment through a window, police said.
Once inside, the suspect allegedly grabbed a female victim who confronted him and forced her to remain in her home for up to three hours, refusing to allow her to leave, authorities said.
The victim, in fear for her safety, complied with the suspect’s demands to cook for him while the suspect allegedly ingested narcotics before taking off on her blue Schwinn beach cruiser, police said.
Walker has criminal convictions for drug possession, stalking, violating a domestic violence order, and burglary dating to 1991, according to the Orange County Register, citing court records.
