Teardrop Rapist / Reward

Motion - Since 1999, a sexual predator dubbed the "Teardrop Rapist" has preyed on teenage girls and young women between the ages of 14-27 throughout the City. The suspect has been described as a male Latino, approximately 5'5"-5'9", slight to medium build, with brown hair and eyes with one or two teardrop tattoos under his right or left eye, which he may have attempted to remove. To date, twenty-one sexual assaults have taken place during the early morning hours that have been linked, either through DNA evidence, or modus operandi to this sexual predator suspect. Los Angeles Police Department detectives have conducted an exhaustive investigation and have been unable to identify the suspect and believe that no new information will develop without community assistance. The person responsible for this crime represent an ongoing threat to the safety of the people of Los Angeles; therefore it is appropriate for the City of Los Angeles to offer a reward for information leading to the identification and apprehension of this criminal. THEREFORE MOVE that the City Council provide an offer of reward for information leading to the identification, apprehension, and conviction of the person or persons responsible for these sexual assaults, and in support thereof make the following findings pursuant to Division 19, Chapter 12, Article 1 of the Los Angeles Administrative Code (LAAC): 1. That these sexual assaults were caused by the willful misconduct of another person. 2. That this offer of reward is consistent with and taken for the immediate protection of the public peace, health and safety of local residents, as well as visitors to the City, and is consistent with the need to arrest and convict the person or persons who, because of not being apprehended, could by their actions further terrorize and present a continuing and immediate menace to the rights of persons in the City. 3. That these sexual assaults are an especially disturbing crime and therefore, as a matter of public policy, the City hereby offers a reward as an added inducement for persons to come forward with information leading to the identification and apprehension of the person or persons responsible for these sexual assaults. 4. That the sum of $25,000 shall be the aggregate maximum sum of any payment or payments of a City reward in this instance. 5. That the offer of reward shall be in effect for sixty days from the date of the advertisement of the reward by the City Clerk. FURTHER MOVE that the City Clerk be directed to cause notices and/or advertisements to be duly published according to the requirements of Division 19, Chapter 12, Article 1 of the Los Angeles Administrative Code, and to thereby cause the offer of reward to become effective.

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Motion (Price - Harris-Dawson) 10/26/2021