According to police, the man, 37-year-old Jonh Erik Bastidas Arenas, who worked as a ride-share driver, drove up next to the girl, showed her a weapon and made her get inside of his vehicle. The victim eventually escaped on foot, after the man sexually assaulted her.
Los Angeles Police Department
Jonh Erik Bastidas Arenas, 37, was arrested on Thursday for an incident that occurred on Aug. 13, when he pulled up next a 13-year-old girl walking home near Gilmore Street and Sylmar Avenue in Van Nuys, flashed a weapon and made her get inside of his vehicle. After she was sexually assaulted by Arenas, the girl managed to escape and run from the area on foot.
During the course of their investigation, detectives located surveillance footage of the incident, tracking Arenas down using information they gathered of his vehicle, a white 2021 Toyota Prius.He was arrested and charged with kidnapping and sexual assault related charges. Los Angeles Police Department investigators are seeking additional victims of Arenas' and are urging anyone with additional information to contact them at 374-5415.