A man suspecting of ambushing a janitorial worker at a Little Italy coffee shop and trying to sexually assault her was arrested Monday afternoon, a day after the assault, authorities reported.
San Diego police took 28-year-old Christopher Merron into custody in the 2100 block of Fenton Parkway in Mission Valley about 1:30 p.m., Lt. Jason Weeden said.
Merron allegedly attacked the woman as she was cleaning the eatery in the 1700 block of India Street about 4:30 a.m. Sunday, pushing her into a back room, taking her car keys and threatening her with some kind of weapon. Following a struggle, the victim was able to break free and run out of the building, Weeden said.
The assailant then fled in the woman’s tan 1998 GMC Jimmy SUV.
Merron was expected to be booked into county jail on suspicion of assault with intent to commit a sex crime, sexual battery, false imprisonment, burglary, brandishing a deadly weapon, making criminal threats and auto theft.
Police did not disclose what type of weapon Merron allegedly used to threaten the victim.
The stolen vehicle has been recovered, the lieutenant said.
— City News Service
