A man suspected in the brutal attacks of several women including at least two elderly women has been arrested in Mexico after a weeks-long search.
Sergio Andrew Garcia, 21, was taken into custody earlier this week after being located and returned to Los Angeles County, Sheriff Robert Luna said Wednesday.
Garcia was identified as a suspect after an attack on a 67-year-old woman who was gardening when he repeatedly punched her in the face and pulled down her pants.
Around the same time, the suspect allegedly also assaulted an 84-year-old woman who was just outside of her home and standing near her car.
Prior to those attacks, Garcia is suspected in at least five more assaults from July 10 through July 15, including one in which a woman lost consciousness.
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Sergio Andrew Garcia, 21, was taken into custody earlier this week after being located in Mexico and arrested in connection to a series of assaults in the Los Angeles area
Rosalina Martinez (left) was brutally beaten while gardening in her LA yard on July 17. Angelica (right) was beaten while standing by her car on the same day
A manhunt for the suspect was carried out for more than a week until U.S. Marshals located Garcia in Mexico on Tuesday, police said.
He is currently facing counts including attempted murder, assault with intent to commit rape, and more. His bail was set by a judge at $4.06 million.
The first attack took place on July 17 outside the home of Rosalina Martinez, 67.
Martinez was punched in the face repeatedly and dragged on the ground and suffered injuries including a broken nose as well as bruises and scrapes.
Garcia allegedly approached Martinez from behind while she was working in her yard and began hitting her over and over again.
‘I couldn’t do anything, he was very strong,’ she said.
After punching her in the face, he pulled down her pants and underwear, police said.
‘He was trying to rape me,’ Martinez said in an interview after the attack.
The attack eventually ended after a neighbor noticed the commotion and scared the suspect away. He fled on foot before getting on a ‘fixie’ bicycle and riding off.
Neighbors of Martinez’s took video of the attacker at the scene after the beating
Martinez spoke with local outlets from her bed after the beating left her injured
On the same day, Garcia allegedly attacked another woman nearby.
An 84-year-old Los Angeles resident named Angelica was beaten as her neighbor, Jazmin Avila, told ABC 7 the attack was horrific.
She had been by her car, feet away from her front door, when the man attacked.
‘After she lost consciousness from him hitting her, he dragged her to an empty space toward the laundry room that way and continued the attack,’ Avila said.
‘He stole everything, whatever was in her purse and stole her car… she doesn’t have a car anymore,’ Avila said.
Angelica was itinually hospitalized and then released but will need surgery.
‘We’ve never had anything like that occur right here. It’s crazy,’ Avila said.
Garcia reportedly stole the woman’s car the next day before crashing it.
‘It’s upsetting because she doesn’t bother anyone. She was just going to her car. She could be anyone’s grandmother,’ the neighbor said.
An 84-year-old Los Angeles resident named Angelica (pictured) was allegedly attacked by Garcia as her neighbor, Jazmin Avila, told ABC 7 she was beaten on July 15
The details of the other attacks have yet to be released by police.
A motivation in the horrific assaults is unknown at this time.
Garcia has been arrested several times and was last booked for felony assault two years ago.