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Police: Woman carjacked, kidnapped, and raped 

Suspect arrested for kidnapping, carjacking, and rape

19-year-old victim was taken to San Ardo and sexually assaulted at gunpoint, police say

Edson Tapia - suspect in rape, kidnapping

Edson Tapia, 21

On Sunday, June 23, 2013, at about midnight, deputies from the SLO County Sheriff’s Office brought a crime victim to the Paso Robles Police Department after the victim reported a horrific incident that began in Paso Robles, police say.

Police learned the 19-year-old female victim had been accosted by two suspects while getting gas at the AM/PM service station in the 100 block of Niblick Road. The victim reported that she had been coerced to drive both suspects to the area of San Ardo in Monterey County. One of the suspects left after they arrived there, while the other suspect stayed with the victim.

This suspect then sexually assaulted the victim at gunpoint inside the vehicle before taking her to San Miguel, police say. The victim was able to escape from the vehicle in San Miguel and the suspect fled in her vehicle. The victim called 9-1-1 and the suspect was gone prior to the arrival of the deputies.

This information was broadcast to law enforcement agencies in both San Luis Obispo County and Monterey County. At about 3:10 a.m. on June 24, deputies from the Monterey County Sheriff’s Office located the victim’s vehicle unoccupied and abandoned in San Ardo. The vehicle was recovered and has been processed for evidence by police detectives with the assistance of the personnel from the California Department of Justice Crime Lab.

Later on Monday at about 11 a.m., police detectives located both suspects in San Ardo. As a result of their investigation, one of the suspects was arrested and transported back to the Paso Robles Police Department. This suspect was identified as 21-year-old San Ardo resident Edson Tapia.

The other subject contacted in San Ardo was released after being interviewed. This subject is believed to be the person originally identified as the second suspect in this incident. Detectives could not establish probable cause to arrest this subject and the investigation is ongoing.

According to Lieutenant Tim Murphy, the second suspect was not arrested because “The carjacking and kidnapping did not occur until after the suspects had separated.”

The weapon used in this crime has been recovered and determined to be an imitation firearm. The victim suffered minor injuries during this incident, according to the police report. Due to the nature of this crime, Police are not releasing the details of her injuries. She was treated and released, according to Lieutenant Tim Murphy.

Tapia was booked into the SLO County Jail for carjacking, a felony, forcible rape, a felony, auto theft, a felony, and kidnapping, a felony.

This investigation is ongoing, and the police are seeking assistance from the public. Anyone with information is asked to call the Paso Robles Police Department. Persons wishing to remain anonymous can contact Crime Stoppers at 805-549-STOP or submit a Web Tip from the Crime Stoppers website at http://www.slotips.org. You can also submit a “TEXT TIP” by texting “slotips” and your message to CRIMES (or 274637). You do not have to give your name.

Source: Paso Robles Police Department

Top stories June 25, 2013

 

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