Sex offender wanted in Texas and for 1984 SGV assault arrested in LA County park

Community Message has been issued by the LASD - Headquarters Newsroom (SHB), Los Angeles County Sheriff.

Monday February 28, 2011 4:51 PM PST
Sex offender wanted in Texas and for 1984 SGV assault arrested in LA County park

A 54-year old registered sex offender wanted in Texas will face charges this Friday in Pomona Court, after he was arrested for warrants at a county park in Rowland Heights. One of the warrants was for a 1984 San Gabriel Valley sex offense.

Sheriff's Parks Bureau Deputy Jeanette Freeman was on patrol in Pete Schabarum Regional Park at about 6:00PM on February 16th, when she saw the suspect sitting alone in a car in the parking lot. Upon seeing the deputy, the suspect began to act nervous and started to drive away.

The deputy soon stopped him for a traffic violation and identified him as Suspect Sylvester Nathan Larrabee, a White male resident of Lake Elsinore. A check for warrants revealed that Suspect Larrabee was a registered sex offender and was wanted in El Paso, Texas, for the alleged kidnapping and sexual assault of two teenage victims. A further check for arrest warrants revealed a felony warrant issued by Pomona Court for a 1984 alleged felony sexual battery in the San Gabriel Valley.

Suspect Larrabee was arrested and booked for the arrest warrants at Walnut Sheriff's Station, and is being held in the Los Angeles County jail. No bail is allowed for the Texas warrant and the warrant issued by Pomona Court has a $250,000.00 bail. He is awaiting trial in Pomona Court and extradition to El Paso, Texas. No additional details about the alleged crimes are currently available.

The Parks Bureau of the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department polices 145 county parks throughout Los Angeles County. The Sheriff's Parks Bureau is dedicated to providing a safe and drug free environment at all county parks. Pete Schabarum Regional County Park is located at 17250 Colima Road, in Rowland Heights.

Partner to prevent crime by contacting your local sheriff's station with information about possible criminal activity. Or if you wish to remain Anonymous, call “LA Crime Stoppers” by dialing 800-222-TIPS (8477), texting the letters TIPLA plus your tip to CRIMES (274637), or using the website http://lacrimestoppers.org

Public Safety Message
Often, when parents and guardians hear about the presence of possible sex offenders in their area, peace officers are asked for recommendations on how they can maximize the safety of their chidlren. The National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (http://www.missingkids.com ) offers the following safety tips for parents to discuss with their youngsters:


* Travel with a friend, or better yet, a group of friends when riding your bike or walking to or from school or other destinations.


* If a stranger offers you a ride somewhere, say no, and run away. Adults should define "stranger" and give safety tip examples to help youth, especially young ones, know what you mean.


* If someone follows you on foot, get away as quickly as you can. Go to someone's house you know, or run to other people, or just run away.


* If someone is following you in a car, turn around and go in the opposite direction or take a path where a car would not go.


* Never leave school or any other extracurricular activity or event with someone who makes you feel uncomfortable. Moms or dads should tell their youngster that it is okay in these circumstances to not ride home, but that also means adults should have an established communications method along with these safety tip guidelines so that the kid does not end up stranded or alone.


* If a stranger tells you that there is an emergency or that a family member is hurt or that a pet has been in an accident, always check with your mom or dad or other trusted adults. This is a common trick used by many molesters or kidnappers.


* For more information about safety tips contact the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department www.lasd.org , your local police or sheriff's station, or the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children at http://www.missingkids.com


More safety tips:
* Adults should establish "safe houses" where kids feel comfortable in knocking on their door at any time a situation warrants it. Be sure to get approval from the neighbors/homeowners first before designating a home as a "safe house." If possible, have a neighborhood safety tip meeting and have residents agree to watch after one another.


* Parents should be cautious about blatant use of a child's name on a back pack or jacket. Kids sometimes believe that a person can't be a stranger if they know them by name, when the reality is that their name was easily readable on their attire or the individual heard a youngster's name mentioned.


* Adults should understand that boys are at just as greatest of risk as girls. It is a common safety tip misconception that child molesters or perpetrators are typically men and seek only girls. Molesters come in all ages and both genders, and their victims can be of either sex.


* Parents should begin reinforcing these safety tips as soon as a kid is old enough to understand, and above all, ensure that their child feels comfortable enough in discussing these issues, their concerns or fears, or any potentially inappropriate events that have possibly transpired. Awareness of these safety tips can help kids be less susceptible to any stranger dangers.

Deputy Johnie Jones
Parks Bureau
Los Angeles Count Sheriff's Department

Captain Mike Parker
Sheriff's Headquarters Bureau - Newsroom
Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department
(323) 267-4800
http://www.lasd.org/
Leroy D. Baca, Sheriff
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