Thu. Nov 21st, 2024

The infamous Gary Dalton Derusha

Santa Ana Police Department Advisory: Detectives arrest sexual battery suspect – believe there may be additional unreported cases throughout Orange County

Today, members of Santa Ana Family Crimes Unit served a $100,000 arrest warrant at the home of Gary Dalton Derusha (21) in the city of Anaheim. Derusha is charged with eight counts of sexual battery, carrying a switchblade knife and resisting an officer. Seven of the charged cases occurred in Tustin and one in Santa Ana.

Gary Dalton Derusha

On 5/21/13, Derusha followed an adult female after she dropped off her daughter at Fairhaven Elementary School, Santa Ana. Derusha followed the female to her apartment complex, 1600 E. 17th Street. He ran up behind the victim and pulled her pants down and sexually assaulted her.

Gary Dalton Derusha's car

A second Santa Ana incident occurred on 9/16/13 with the same victim. In this case the suspect once again followed the victim home after dropping her daughter off at school. Prior to contacting the victim, she observed the suspect, who was driving in a 1994 Toyota Camry black in color, as the same male who assaulted her on 5/21/13. The victim was able to get the suspect’s license plate and immediately called 911. The suspect fled the scene and there was no assault.

Gary Dalton Derusha without glasses

In September of 2013, detectives following up on the case, found that Tustin Police Department had arrested Gary Dalton Derusha in August 2013 for seven similar crimes in their city. Derusha was driving the same vehicle. They were also informed that Derusha was out on bail for those cases.

Detectives believe that there may be additional victims in the Orange County area. We are releasing photos of suspect Gary Dalton Derusha and his vehicle. Anyone one with information is requested to contact Santa Ana Family Crimes Unit Detective David Yettaw 714-245-8432.

For full details, view this message on the web.

author avatar
Art Pedroza Editor
Our Editor, Art Pedroza, worked at the O.C. Register and the OC Weekly and studied journalism at CSUF and UCI. He has lived in Santa Ana for over 30 years and has served on several city and county commissions. When he is not writing or editing Pedroza specializes in risk control and occupational safety. He also teaches part time at Cerritos College and CSUF. Pedroza has an MBA from Keller University.

By Art Pedroza

Our Editor, Art Pedroza, worked at the O.C. Register and the OC Weekly and studied journalism at CSUF and UCI. He has lived in Santa Ana for over 30 years and has served on several city and county commissions. When he is not writing or editing Pedroza specializes in risk control and occupational safety. He also teaches part time at Cerritos College and CSUF. Pedroza has an MBA from Keller University.

Leave a Reply

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.