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Long Beach rape suspect arrested hours after investigators release surveillance footage

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CBS News Los Angeles Live

Long Beach police have announced an arrest just hours after they released surveillance video of a man who was suspected of raping a woman last week. 

It happened on Wednesday at around 1 a.m. in an alleyway near W. 10th Street and Pacific Avenue, according to the Long Beach Police Department. They say that the victim, only identified as a woman, was walking near the alley when the man approached her and allegedly assaulted her. 

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An image of the alleged sexual assault suspect being sought by Long Beach Police Department investigators. Long Beach Police Department

Police believe the man ran northbound on Pacific Avenue, where he is believed to have also struck a second woman in the upper body at around 9 a.m. in the 1200 block of Long Beach Boulevard. 

"This abhorrent crime is disturbing and intolerable," said LBPD Chief Wally Hebeish in a statement. "I'm urging the public to please review the provided video and help us identify the suspect responsible for committing this crime."

The suspect was described as a man in his late-20s who stands about 5-foot-8 and weighs between 180 and 200 pounds. He has facial hair and medium-length dreadlocks, police said. Video shows him wearing a black hoodie, gray pants and black shoes as he walks in the area where the assault occurred. 

On Sunday, police announced that they had made an arrest in the incident. He was identified as Dion Terrell Walton Jr.

He was located on Saturday at around 12:20 p.m. in the 200 block of E. Opp Street in Wilmington and arrested without further incident, police said. 

Walton is being held on $1 million bail after he was booked on suspicion of sodomy, first-degree robbery, aggravated kidnapping with intent to commit rape and assault with intent to commit a felony.

Due to the nature of the alleged crimes, police believe that there may be additional unreported incidents. Anyone who knows more is urged to contact LBPD's Sex Crimes Detail at (562) 570-7368.

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