El Sereno, Los Angeles, CA: A suspect wanted for allegedly kidnapping and sexually assaulting a 14-year-old at a park in El Sereno was taken into custody Tuesday, Oct. 11, shortly after 10:00 p.m.

Los Angeles Police Department Hollenbeck Division officers responded to the 2500 block of Mallory Street in the El Sereno neighborhood of Los Angeles where they located and apprehended the suspect.

The home where the suspect was taken into custody is approximately 300 yards from where the crime occurred.

Several Citizen tips directed officers to a potential suspect at a residence on Mallory Street, according to the Los Angeles Police Department on Wednesday, Oct. 12, 2022.

The suspect is identified as Edward Williams “Willie” Banks, 27, a resident of Los Angeles. Banks was arrested and booked for aggravated kidnapping to commit rape. His bail is set at $1,000,000, according to LAPD.

On Oct. 11, LAPD was alerted to a sexual assault at a park on the 4700 block of Klamath Street. Police say preliminary investigation revealed an unknown suspect approached a 14-year-old victim, threatened the victim with a weapon and forced the victim into a bathroom. The suspect proceeded to sexually assault the victim, then fled in an unknown direction, according to LAPD.

Zak Holman, Video Journalist / KNN

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