A suspected serial rapist wished in reference to the rape of two girls in Massachusetts in 1989 was arrested in Los Angeles on Thursday following a prolonged police chase.
Officers positioned the suspect, Stephen Paul Gale, 71, who was driving a darkish SUV, shortly after 4 p.m. within the Wilmington space and started their pursuit, in accordance with U.S. Marshals.
Gale led police onto the 110 and 405 freeways, ultimately exiting the freeway onto floor streets on L.A.’s Westside whereas driving at a reasonable velocity, KTLA5-TV and ABC7-TV reported.
The hour and a half pursuit got here to an finish on Medical Plaza Drive in Westwood close to Ronald Reagan UCLA Medical Heart, stated Kevin Terzes, spokesperson for the Los Angeles Police Division.
Police surrounded the motive force’s car with weapons drawn, KTLA5 reported. The driving force surrendered and was taken into custody.
His arrest was the results of a decades-long nationwide manhunt for Gale, who was charged with aggravated rape and kidnapping of two girls in Massachusetts in 1989.
He was lately recognized by way of genetic family tree as a suspect in a collection of rapes in Boston from 1989-90, authorities stated.
On the time of the incidents, Gale’s identification was unknown and he was referred to easily because the “Boston Strip Mall Rapist.”
Gale had been on the run for years earlier than he was lastly recognized because the suspect within the 1989 case, in accordance with federal authorities. He had final been seen in public in 2008.
In Might, the U.S. Marshals Workplace launched a wished announcement for Gale in reference to the 1989 case and a reward for his seize of as much as $5,000. As well as, the announcement stated Gale was additionally wished for questioning in reference to the collection of rapes within the higher Boston space.
