A homeless man who allegedly assaulted two women with a metal pole in Long Beach in January was in custody Friday, police said.
"On Jan. 4 ... officers responded to two separate physical assaults, believed to involve the same suspect," the Long Beach Police Department said in a statement. "In each of the two incidents, the suspect struck a female adult victim with a metal pole."
The first crime occurred about 9:45 a.m. that day near 21st Street and Locust Avenue, police said.
"The investigation indicates a female adult victim was pushing a child in a stroller when the suspect assaulted her with a metal object," police said. "The victim was transported to a local hospital for her injuries; the child was not harmed."
Want to get caught up on what's happening in SoCal every weekday afternoon? Click to follow The L.A. Local wherever you get podcasts.
The second crime occurred about three hours later near 21st Street and Pine Avenue, police said.
"The investigation indicates a female adult victim (was) walking outside and passed the suspect, who struck her with a metal object without warning," police said. ``The victim declined medical treatment at the scene.
Afterward, police released a public information bulletin and sought the public's help to solve the crimes, and the investigation led detectives to identify the suspect as 27-year-old Job Jesse Villegas.
Detectives obtained an arrest warrant from the Los Angeles County District Attorney's Office, and on Monday, they arrested Villegas in the city of Los Angeles, police said.
Villegas was taken to the Long Beach City Jail, where he was booked on suspicion of assault with a deadly weapon, battery, trespassing, and prior warrants. Bail was set at $710,000.
Anyone with information on the case was urged to contact the LBPD Violent Crimes Detail at 562-570-7250. Tipsters may also call Crime Stoppers at 800-222-TIPS, or use the website www.LACrimeStoppers.org.
Follow KNX News 97.1 FM
Twitter | Facebook | Instagram | TikTok
