Police arrest kidnapping, sex crime suspect near UC Berkeley
Police arrested Wilmer Guerra Peña, 28, on suspicion of kidnapping to commit a sex crime, assault with intent to commit rape and other crimes.
Berkeley police on patrol made an arrest over the weekend in connection with a kidnapping and sex crime investigation that made headlines across the Bay Area last week.
A patrol officer spotted the man and stopped him in the 2500 block of Durant Avenue on Saturday shortly before midnight, according to records reviewed by The Berkeley Scanner.
The man had parked Saturday night just a block from UC Berkeley in the Southside neighborhood, which is popular with students.
Berkeley police had been looking for Wilmer Guerra Peña since Wednesday when, according to BPD, he jumped out and forced a collision with a 21-year-old summer exchange student on a scooter shortly before 2:20 a.m. at College Avenue and Haste Street.
When the woman went to check on him, police said, he grabbed her and "forcefully carried" her toward a building near UC Berkeley.
The woman was able to fight her way free of the stranger's grasp and call police.
Police released an initial description of the suspect last week that changed as BPD sex crimes investigators were able to collect additional evidence and learn more about what happened.
Officers were then on the lookout for the culprit in the days that followed.
An officer on patrol spotted Guerra Peña late Saturday night in the 2500 block of Durant, about four blocks from the kidnapping incident Wednesday, according to records reviewed by TBS.
Police ultimately took him into custody Sunday shortly after 1 a.m., according to booking records online.
They also towed his car, a blue four-door 2001 Nissan Sentra, according to dispatch recordings reviewed by The Scanner.
Police arrested Wilmer Guerra Peña, 28, on suspicion of kidnapping to commit a sex crime, assault with intent to commit rape, giving false identification to police and failing to provide DNA or fingerprints, according to jail records online.
He remains in custody at Berkeley Jail as of Monday and is scheduled for arraignment Wednesday morning, according to booking records online.
BPD said the investigation is ongoing as of Monday and that more details are forthcoming.
Emilie Raguso
24/7 sexual violence support resources
- Bay Area Women Against Rape: 510-800-4247
- Highland Hospital: 510-437-4800
Campus resources
- Confidential Care Advocate, PATH to Care Center: 510-643-2005 (24/7)
- University Health Services nurse advice line: 510-643-7197 (24/7)
- Gender Equity Resource Center: 510-643-5727
For more information on sexual violence prevention and resources, UCPD directs members of the campus community to its survivor support website.
