By Lookout Staff

Anthony Romero, 28, who is on parole for a crime committed in San Bernardino County, entered the residence in the 2400 block of 2nd Street at around 2:10 a.m. "The victim awoke to the subject standing by her bed and touching her face while he masturbated," said Lt. Erika Aklufi, the Police Department spokesperson. "The victim ordered the subject to leave, and he complied, fleeing the area before officers arrived," Aklufi said.

On Friday morning at 9:22 a.m. officers found Romero walking in the 400 block of Santa Monica Boulevard Downtown, according to police.

"With the help of the UAS/Drone, which was on scene in minutes, and the assisting K9 officer who contacted the suspect, Romero was taken into custody without incident," Aklufi said.

In addition to burglary and attempt to commit rape, Romero was booked for indecent exposure and a parole hold, which prevents a parolee from being released until a parole revocation hearing is held.

"If parole gets reinstated, the person is transferred back into the custody of the Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation," according to the California Penal Code.

Thursday's incident comes six months after an attempted rape victim fought off the naked assailant who broke into her apartment in the Mid-City Neighborhood last September.

In that incident police arrested 29-year-old Cordell Dionte Studley after the victim called 9-1-1 at around 1 a.m. and reported she had woken up "to a nude male who was standing next to her bed."

The number of reported rapes increased in Santa Monica last year from 39 in 2022 to 45 ("Theft, Assaults Drove Increase in Crime Last Year," February 14, 2024).

Anyone with information related to Romero or to Thursday's incident should email Detective McCoy at James.McCoy@santamonica.gov or Detective Sergeant Goodwin at Chad.Goodwin@santamonica.gov.

They also can call the Watch Commander (24 hours) at 310-458-8427.