Man Posed As Child Services To Lure And Rape Teen At Bus Stop: LAPD

LOS ANGELES, CA — Police arrested a 57-year-old man suspected of posing as a childcare worker to lure a young girl away from a Los Angeles bus stop and sexually assault her, the Los Angeles Police Department announced Wednesday. Now, they are asking for additional potential victims to come forward.

Derrick Dwayne Thompson, of Los Angeles, was arrested Jan. 15 after a weeks-long investigation, according to the LAPD.

The attack occurred Nov. 30th when a man in a black Suburban with a sign for a childcare business plastered across it approached a 15-year-old girl at a bus stop, according to the LAPD.

"The suspect told the victim he worked for Child Services and offered the victim a ride home. Believing the suspect worked for Child Services, the victim entered the vehicle," The LAPD said in a written statement. "The suspect drove to a parking lot, told the victim to get into the back seat, then removed the child care business sign from the vehicle door. The suspect got into the back seat with the victim, removed her clothing, and sexually assaulted her."

Detectives last week identified Thompson as the suspect, and arrested him on suspicion of forcible rape, sodomy by use of force on a victim 14 or older, and sexual penetration by use of force on a minor over 14 years old, according to the LAPD.

Thompson, is being held without bail, and the circumstances of the attack, including the brazen ruse, led detectives to suspect there may be additional victims.

The LAPD released a photograph of Thompson, his SUV, and the child care sign to encourage additional potential victims to come forward. Anyone who believes they may have been a victim of Thompson or who has information about the attack is urged to call LAPD Juvenile Division detectives at 424-259-7097 or to make anonymous calls to Crimes Stoppers at 800-222-8477 or visit lacrimstoppers.org.