Police Arrest Suspect in Attempted Rape, Nab Sex Offender

By Elizabeth Schneider

August 7 -- A 27-year-old man was arrested and charged with attempted rape Sunday night after the victim fought him off, police said.

The 26-year-old victim was staying at her boyfriend's apartment at the 1800 block of 17th Street when the boyfriend's roommate walked into the bedroom where she was staying and attempted to rape her at approximately 11:15 p.m.

The victim screamed, successfully fought off the suspect and told him to leave, which he did. The victim, who was not injured in the attack, left the apartment building and called police.

Police officers found the suspect, who is identified as Octavio Padilla, of Inglewood and arrested him. Bail was set at $50,000.

Two days earlier, a 36-year-old transient was arrested for outstanding warrants and failure to register as a sex offender, police said.

The suspect, identified as Steven Ellsworth Keller, was approached by police officers at approximately 10:40 p.m. near the corner of 12th Street and Michigan Avenue after officers received a call concerning a suspicious person.

Upon questioning, the officers determined that the suspect had two outstanding warrants in Santa Monica, and that he was a sex offender who had failed to register with the police department.