NORTH HILLS (CNS) – A 29-year-old registered sex offender suspected in a series of six sexual assaults in a roughly six-hour span in the western San Fernando Valley was in custody Thursday after surrendering at the Lancaster sheriff’s station.
Damian Denzell Robinson turned himself in at the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Lancaster Station Wednesday night, according to the Los Angeles Police Department and jail records.
Los Angeles County sheriff’s online inmate records indicated he was being held at the LAPD’s Valley Jail in Van Nuys.
The LAPD’s Devonshire Division began an investigation into sexual assault allegations after an elderly woman told them about a man pulling down her pants, grabbing her and sexually assaulting her at approximately 9:10 a.m. Sunday near Devonshire Street and Balboa Boulevard in North Hills before fleeing, according to the LAPD.
A similar attack was reported about 45 minutes later, when an elderly woman in the area of Forbes Avenue and Calahan Street in Northridge told detectives she was approached by a man who attempted to pull down her pants. Police said the woman held onto her waistband and confronted the suspect before he fled.
Five minutes later, detectives received another report of a victim who was walking near Lassen Street and Encino Avenue in Northridge, where a man allegedly approached her from behind.
Police said the suspect grabbed the woman and sexually assaulted her while recording the incident on his cellphone before fleeing.
At about 11:15 a.m. Sunday, another victim reported she was approached from behind, grabbed, and sexually assaulted inside a food market near Vanowen Street and Corbin Avenue in Winnetka before the suspect fled.
Another victim at a food market near Mason Avenue and Sherman Way reported at about 12:35 p.m. that she was also approached by the suspect, who pulled her pants and underwear down.
Then, at a restroom in a retail store near Corbin Avenue and Nordhoff Street in Winnetka, a victim reported at approximately 3:20 p.m. that a suspect was witnessed using his cellphone to record her from under the stall.
With the assistance of closed-circuit television, police identified Robinson as the alleged groper.
Robinson has a previous conviction for indecent exposure and lewd conduct, resulting in him having to register as a sex offender, police said.
Robinson was wanted on suspicion of felony sexual battery, along with other multiple sexual offenses.
Detectives released a photo of Robinson on Wednesday to encourage additional potential victims to come forward with unreported sexual assaults.
Anyone with additional information or victims wanting to come forward was urged to call Devonshire Area Sexual Assault Detective Danielle Tumbleson at 818-832-0609. Calls during non-business hours should be made to 877-527- 3247. Tipsters who prefer to remain anonymous can call Crime Stoppers at 800- 222-8477 or visit lacrimestoppers.org.
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