Riverside police arrested a man Friday in connection with two incidents where women were nearly sexually assaulted after their vehicles were intentionally hit.
Joseph Pete Macias, 34, of Riverside was arrested on suspicion of kidnapping for ransom or robbery, second degree robbery, sexual penetration by force, and attempted murder.
The Police Department detailed the two incidents in a Facebook post:
On Friday, December 23, 2016, at approximately 1:16 a.m., Riverside Police Officers responded to the 5700 Block of Sycamore Canyon Boulevard regarding an attempted sexual assault and armed robbery that just occurred. The victim had stopped to fuel her vehicle at a gas station on University Avenue at the 215 Freeway. As she left the station, she observed a vehicle begin to follow her. She re-entered the southbound 215 freeway and exited the Central Avenue off ramp. As she began to slow for the signal light, the suspect vehicle intentionally struck the back of her vehicle causing the victim to pull to the side of the off ramp. The suspect exited his vehicle armed with a knife, attempted to sexually assault the victim and stole her property. The suspect was last seen driving away southbound on the 215 freeway.
On Thursday, December 29, 2016, at about 4:12 a.m., Riverside Police Officers responded to the 1300 block of Blaine Street regarding an attempted sexual assault and armed robbery that just occurred. The victim was travelling north along the 215 Freeway between University Avenue and Blaine Street when the suspect intentionally struck the back of her vehicle causing the victim to pull over before the Blaine Street exit. The suspect exited his vehicle armed with a knife, attempted to sexually assault the victim and stole her property. The suspect fled in his vehicle and the victim ran to the nearest open business to call police. The circumstances between this incident and the first were very similar.
