By TANYA EISERER
The Dallas Morning News
Protecting the public from LE impersonators
GRAND PRAIRIE, Tex. — An armed security guard is accused of abducting a woman in north Oak Cliff and raping her in Grand Prairie early Wednesday after telling her that he was a police officer and that he was arresting her, police said.
Gerardo Leal, 26, was arrested on suspicion of aggravated sexual assault.
According to Dallas police, shortly after midnight, the security guard encountered the woman as she was walking near Marsalis Avenue and Eighth Street.
“The security guard informed her that she was under arrest for public intoxication,” said Sgt. Patrick Welsh, head of the sexual assaults squad. “The complainant believed he was a police officer.”
The man told her he was taking her to jail. Instead, he took her to Grand Prairie, where he raped her in the vehicle, police said. He then brought her back to Dallas and released her in West Dallas.
“She flagged down a citizen, and the citizen took her somewhere to use the phone,” Sgt. Welsh said.
The woman called 911 about 3:15 a.m. Wednesday to report the attack. She took police to the Grand Prairie location where the assault occurred. It was a private business where Mr. Leal provided security, police said.
He arrived while officers were there, and he was arrested and the vehicle was impounded. Sgt. Welsh said Mr. Leal refused to give detectives a statement.
Copyright 2007 The Dallas Morning News