Ben Godar
Police arrested a man late Friday suspected of committing several
sexual assaults in Burbank and Glendale, and possibly beyond.
Three women reported this week that a man groped them in various
parking areas around Burbank's Media City Center, police said. In
each case, the man approached the victim and reached his hand under
her skirt before running away.
"We're not aware of any rape attempts," Burbank Police spokesman
Sgt. William Berry said. "He just grabbed their intimate areas and
then ran away."
Police arrested Rogelio Zacarias, 23, of Pico Rivera, on suspicion
of stalking, sexual battery and burglary.
After two women reported being attacked within 20 minutes of each
other Wednesday, one in the Mervyn's parking structure and one in the
IKEA parking structure, police distributed sketches of the suspect to
area businesses and increased their patrols, Berry said.
"We set up a task force of vice and narcotics, special enforcement
and patrol, and saturated the area," he said.
Police received a report about 3 p.m. Friday that someone had seen
Zacarias in the mall area and officers moved in and made the arrest.
In addition to the Burbank incidents, police believe Zacarias was
responsible for two attacks near the Glendale Galleria, and might
have been involved in other incidents around the area.
"We'll be putting out a teletype notifying other departments in
the Southland," he said.
While Burbank Police know of some cases around the Media City
Center, Berry said they believe other victims might not have filed
police reports.
"It's very traumatic, and a lot of times these incidents aren't
even reported at all," he said.
Anyone who believes she was a victim can call Burbank Police at
238-3000.
