Agency:  La Palma Police Department

A motel maid was cleaning rooms when she came upon a transient, masturbating, inside an unoccupied room. The subject grabbed her and attempted to rape her; however, she was able to escape and call for help.  Evidence inside the room led investigators to believe the subject had been illegally occupying the room.  Investigators analyzed discarded cigarette butts for DNA evidence and were successful in matching it to a local transient who was a registered sex offender.

A warrant of arrest was issued for the suspect who was arrested a year later when he went to La Palma Police Department to update his sex registration information.