Civic Center Slapper Sought

Los Angeles - A man was arrested last Friday on suspicion of assaulting four people in the Civic Center area of downtown Los Angeles, and police sought a second man as a suspect in a fifth similar crime.

Jermaine Moran allegedly slapped, punched or pushed three women and a man in separate assaults between Jan. 3 and Thursday night, Los Angeles police Lt. Paul Vernon said. Most of the incidents occurred at or near First and Main streets.

Moran was taken into custody near Main and Temple streets, Vernon said.

One victim, a woman who was accosted on Jan. 11, "clearly eliminated" Moran as the suspect, however, Vernon said. Her assailant was described as a black man, 5 feet 10 inches tall, "thin, but not too thin," who wore dirty blue jeans.

Anyone with information on the case was urged to call Crime Stoppers, (800) 222-TIPS.