Los Angeles police on Friday arrested a man in his 20s for allegedly attacking and attempting to sexually assault a woman in her upscale East Hollywood apartment building Thursday night.
The suspect, 25-year-old Christian Yniguez, is believed to be a transient who frequents the area, according to the Los Angeles Police Department.
Yniguez was arrested after officers canvassed the neighborhood and will be charged in connection with battery and attempted sexual assault.
He was beind held in lieu of $1 million bail, LAPD officials said.
The attack occurred at about 7:45 p.m. when the woman was leaving the gym inside her apartment building on N. Edgemont Street, Los Angeles Police Lt. Richard Parks said.
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The woman noticed a man she did not recognize in the laundry room. She asked the man why he was there and he told her he was visiting someone, but she didn't believe him and asked him to leave, Parks said.
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When the man refused to leave, the woman called the police. The man allegeldy began hitting her and punching her, and tried to sexually assault her, police said.
When the police arrived, he had run away, Parks said.
The victim was treated in the hospital for scrapes and cuts, and examined for possible sexual assault.
It is unclear how the man got into the apartment building. Resident Steven Bruno said the front door doesn't always close fully and people are known to wander in.
"It's a concern," Bruno said. "There's transients all up and down here."
The building manager could not be reached for comment.
