Former councilman is named as rape suspect

Andrew Adelman, a former Crescenta Valley Town Council member who was honored at the council’s July 16 meeting, is being investigated by the Los Angeles Police Department after being accused of raping a woman July 10.

Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa has placed Adelman, general manager of the city’s Department of Building and Safety, on administrative leave.

“Please be reminded that your employment is at will and may be terminated at any time,” the letter stated.

The search warrant was obtained by the Enterprise Report and posted on its website, but the LAPD has yet to confirm Adelman as the focus of the investigation. Adelman has not been arrested or charged with a crime, but has retained attorney Mark Geragos. The attorney told the Los Angeles Times that “an investigation has been made public before any determination of the validity of the allegations have been made.”

Geragos did not return phone calls requesting further comment Wednesday.

The woman, whose name was redacted from the published warrant, told investigators that she and friends went on a “pub crawl” in the early evening of July 10, had several drinks and then blacked out, according to the document. She awoke the next morning to find herself being sexually assaulted by a man she claims was Adelman.

She believed she may have been drugged and sought medical attention, according to the warrant.

Six days after the alleged assault, Adelman was honored by the Crescenta Valley Town Council as part of their recognition of former council presidents.

Adelman, who served as town council president in 2003, said at the meeting that he was proud of what had been accomplished during his tenure.

“Even though I don’t live here anymore, I love this community,” he said.

Crescenta Valley Town Council President Steve Pierce was not on the council when Adelman served, but said he and other council members were aware of the allegations.

“I don’t know any more than has been reported. I cannot comment on the allegations,” Pierce said.

Councilwoman Danette Erickson, who did serve on the council with Adelman, also declined to comment on the allegations, saying she preferred to allow the police to complete their investigation.

“I will say he was a good town council president and was very influential in getting our new library built,” she said.