VALINDA >> A man raped and robbed a woman at knifepoint behind a Valinda shopping center Wednesday, authorities said.
Deputies apprehended a suspect several hours after the 6:45 p.m. attack at a small shopping center in the 1400 block of Valinda Avenue, just north of Maplegrove Street in the unincorporated county area of Valinda, Los Angeles County sheriff’s Sgt. David Cortinas said.
The suspect approached the woman and ordered her behind a building at knifepoint, the sergeant said. He sexually assaulted the woman and robbed her of her cell phone before fleeing.
The victim, a woman in her 20s, was taken to a hospital for treatment, Cortinas said. She suffered no life-threatening injuries.
Deputies searching the area and following up on leads found and arrested the suspect — a man in his mid-20s — without a struggle in the area shortly before midnight, Cortinas said.
His identity was not available pending the booking process.