A homeless man with a lengthy criminal record faces charges for allegedly breaking into a Santa Monica woman’s home and masturbating next to her as she slept.
The attack happened just after 2 a.m. on Feb. 29 in the 2400 block of 2nd Street.
According to the Santa Monica Police Department, the victim awoke to Anthony Romero, 28, masturbating next to her bed.
“The victim ordered the subject to leave, and he complied, fleeing the area before officers arrived,” police said in a statement.
Officers obtained security footage of the attacker entering the victim’s house, which was shared with detectives, who quickly identified Romero as the suspect, according to police.
The next day, officers spotted him walking in the 400 block of Santa Monica Boulevard.
“With the help of the UAS/Drone, which was on scene in minutes, and the assisting K9 officer who contacted the suspect, Romero was taken into custody without incident,” police said.
The Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office has charged Romero with felony burglary and felony indecent exposure. His preliminary hearing is scheduled for April.
Police say Romero was on parole for a weapons violation at the time of his arrest.
Within the past two years, he has been arrested in Santa Monica for shoplifting, public intoxication, resisting arrest, battery on a police officer and a parole violation.
Anyone with information about Romero is urged to contact Detective McCoy at [email protected].
