Former Police Cadet Arrested On Rape Charges
SANTA ANA (CBS) — A former police academy cadet and armored car company employee faced charges of sexually assaulting a prostitute, police said Wednesday.
Jose Luis Capacete, 39, of Baldwin Park, primarily targeted illegal immigrants and may be responsible for multiple rapes in Orange County, said Santa Ana police Cpl. Anthony Bertagna.
Capacete made his first appearance in court Tuesday on felony charges of sodomy by force, oral copulation by force and two counts of sexual penetration by a foreign object, according to court records. His arraignment was postponed until Feb. 9.
KNX 1070's Mike Landa reports a search of the suspect's home uncovered several pieces of potential evidence including three handguns and a Taser gun.
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Police also found "items that belong to six females not related to him," Bertagna said.
Capacete was being held without bail.
He is accused of abducting a woman walking in the 300 block of South Harbor Boulevard on Dec. 24, taking her in his 2001 Chrysler Town and Country mini-van to the 1600 north block of Harbor, where he allegedly sexually assaulted the woman, Bertagna said.
"He bound the victim in the car, took her clothes off and when he was done with her he pushed her out of the car nude and threw her clothes on top of her," Bertagna said.
Police connected Capacete to the crime through an undisclosed piece of evidence that ended up on the pile of clothes, Bertagna said.
Capacete was arrested Friday, Bertagna said.
He works for the Brinks company in Garden Grove, but it wasn't immediately clear whether he was a security guard, Bertagna said, adding the suspect does have a gun permit.
Capacete also put himself through a police academy and has been applying for law enforcement jobs, Bertagna said. He has a prior arrest for solicitation of prostitution, Bertagna said.
Santa Ana investigators suspect he may be involved in another attack in Garden Grove, and they are working with Homeland Security officials on another case, Bertagna said.
After a search of his home on Friday, investigators suspect there may be several more victims, Bertagna said.
Anyone with information was asked to call (855) TIP-OCCS.
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