Man posing as childcare worker offers teen ride home, then rapes her, California cops say
A man was arrested after he was accused of raping a teenage girl in his SUV while posing as a childcare worker, California police say.
As a 15-year-old girl waited at a bus stop on Nov. 30, a man, later identified as Derrick Dwayne Thompson, 57, pulled up in a black Chevrolet Suburban that had signage for a childcare business, the Los Angeles Police Department said in a Jan. 23 news release.
Thompson told the girl he worked for child services, then offered her a ride home, police said.
The girl believed Thompson and got into his SUV, police said.
Thompson “drove to a parking lot,” where he took the sign off the SUV’s door and told the girl to get into the backseat, according to police.
He then entered the backseat with the girl, took off her clothes and sexually assaulted her, police said.
Weeks later, detectives arrested Thompson on a count of forcible rape on Jan. 15, police said.
After reviewing Thompson’s case, the Los Angeles District Attorney’s Office filed multiple charges against him, including forcible rape, police said.
Thompson is being held without bail and is scheduled to appear in court on Jan. 31, jail records show.
Police said they believe there may be additional victims, and anyone with information is asked to contact detectives at 424-259-7097.
This story was originally published January 23, 2025 at 10:34 AM with the headline "Man posing as childcare worker offers teen ride home, then rapes her, California cops say."
