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A homeless man allegedly terrorized multiple female UCLA students in a late-night crime spree that included accusations of attempted kidnapping, sexual battery and robbery before he was finally tracked down and arrested by campus police, authorities said.
Olumuyiwa Akindahunsi, 29, who is not affiliated with UCLA, was taken into custody early Friday after a series of disturbing attacks unfolded across the Westwood campus.
Investigators said they recovered zip ties, duct tape and paracord nylon rope during the investigation.Akindahunsi is being held at the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department Inmate Reception Center in lieu of $2.3 million bail.
He was arrested on suspicion of robbery, sexual battery, attempted kidnapping and assault with intent to commit a sex offense.The alleged rampage began around 11:30 p.m. Thursday when a student reported being attacked from behind on Bruin Walk.
Police said the suspect stole her cellphone before fleeing.
As officers searched for the alleged attacker, reports of additional assaults emerged from student housing facilities including De Neve Evergreen, Dykstra Hall and Cedar Hall.Police said Akindahunsi allegedly attempted to restrain or sexually assault female students at each location.
The attacks were stopped only because victims fought back or bystanders stepped in.The suspect’s alleged crime spree came to an end shortly after midnight when officers responded to a report of an ongoing assault at Cedar Hall.
A witness heard a student crying out for help, intervened and chased the suspect.
The witness then directed officers to Parking Structure 8, where Akindahunsi was arrested.The arrest comes as students have voiced growing concerns about safety near campus, particularly along Hilgard Avenue, known as sorority row, where women have reported being screamed at, catcalled and followed.
“Instances of harassment seem to be more frequent in recent years and also this year,” Ella Hernand, president of the UCLA Panhellenic Council, told the Daily Bruin earlier this month.
UCLA sororities hired private security last month after an increase in reports involving homeless men allegedly engaging in aggressive behavior, harassment and lewd comments toward female students on Hilgard Avenue.University officials said Akindahunsi is not believed to be connected to previous incidents on or near campus.The arrest comes just weeks after another violent crime case involving a man unaffiliated with UCLA.
In April, a Santa Monica man was charged with kidnapping a female UCLA student in March in an alleged attempt to rape her. Prosecutors also charged him with raping a woman unaffiliated with UCLA near Culver City in October.