Suspect arrested in 2-year peeping and assault spree

SAN DIEGO UNION-TRIBUNE
12:39 p.m. February 23, 2007

SAN DIEGO – A man suspected of terrorizing women in a series of peeping incidents and sexual assaults in Pacific Beach over the past two years was taken into custody Thursday on immigration violations.

Eduardo Castillo Herrarte, 33, was arrested at 4 p.m. in Lemon Grove Thursday afternoon by Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents and San Diego police detectives who had conducted surveillance of his home on Bonita Street, San Diego police said.

Herrarte is suspected in at least 10 incidents since April in which an intruder broke into homes in the area of Grand Avenue west of Ingraham Street. He also is a suspect in similar incidents dating back to early 2005.

In two of the cases, women were sexually assaulted in their homes. Police would not detail the extent of those assaults.

All of the break-ins, and much of the peeping, occurred in the morning hours of 8 to 11 a.m.

“There was physical contact between the suspect and victims on two occasions,” said police Lt. Boyd Long, commander of the Northern Division. “The suspect actually entered homes through unlocked doors or windows.”

City Councilman Kevin Faulconer, whose district includes Pacific Beach, praised the apprehension and the cooperation between the community that led the arrest.

“Our community has been very concerned about this predator being on the loose,” Faulconer said. “In this type of crime, people were confronted in the privacy and safety of their own homes.”

Police praised a woman who as early as Feb. 28, 2005, noted a man acting suspiciously in her Pacific Beach neighborhood, thought he was peeping and took his picture. Officers later contacted the man, who turned out to be Herrarte. But detectives had insufficient evidence to connect to any crimes.

When reports of a peeper again surfaced in Pacific Beach last week, the same woman remembered her prior contact and again called police. She told detectives that she had seen the same man from 2005 in the area as recently as two months ago.

Police used the photograph and other information to make the arrest.

Herrarte, who is from Guatemala, has been working as a landscaper in Pacific Beach for at least 10 years.

Police used the announcement of the arrest to ask residents, especially those in the beach areas, to keep doors and windows locked, something many in those communities do not do.

Police also are seeking other victims and witnesses, and asked anyone who might have information on the case to call (85552-1700.

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Police: PB Peeper In Custody

SAN DIEGO -- San Diego police have arrested a man they believe is the so-called Pacific Beach Peeper.

According to police, the suspect is Eduardo Castillo Herrarte, 33. Officials said that he has been previously arrested on suspicion of driving under the influence, solicitation of prostitution and has been deported at least twice.

Police said they arrested Herrarte at 4 p.m. on Thursday.

Police said a break came in the case on Feb. 16, when a female resident of Pacific Beach called in to police, saying she thought she had seen a peeper in the area two years ago and had reported the incident to police in 2005. As a result, Herrarte was interviewed at that time, though no other actions were taken, said police.

Police said Friday that the tip caller had taken a picture of Herrarte at the time in the alleged act of peeping. She saved the picture and gave it to investigators. The witness also told officers she had seen Herrarte "as recently as two months ago."

San Diego police detectives contacted officials with Immigrations and Customs Enforcement, who confirmed to police that Herrarte had been deported. After San Diego police located Herrarte, ICE agents arrested on an immigrations violation.