ON WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 21, 2007, DETECTIVES FROM THE SPECIAL VICTIMS BUREAU’S LOS ANGELES COUNTY REGIONAL SEXUAL ASSAULT FELONY ENFORCEMENT (S.A.F.E.) TEAM CONDUCTED A SURVEILLANCE AND SUBSEQUENT ARREST OF FIFTY YEAR OLD STEVEN PETRALIA. HE IS A FORMER TEACHER, WHO HAD A 1.3 MILLION DOLLAR ARREST WARRANT FOR KIDNAPPING, ASSAULT WITH A DEADLY WEAPON AND ATTEMPTED LEWD ACTS WITH A FIFTEEN YEAR OLD CHILD IN THE SAN DIMAS AREA.
PETRALIA HAD BEEN FEATURED IN “AMERICA’S MOST WANTED” AND HAD AVOIDED APPREHENSION FOR MONTHS. HE HAD RECENTLY BEEN SEEN IN THE NEW YORK AREA. DURING THE INVESTIGATION, THE S.A.F.E. TEAM LEARNED THAT PETRALIA HAD ADVERTISED TO SELL STUFFED ANIMALS ON THE INTERNET WEBSITE, “CRAIGSLIST.ORG”. WITH THIS INFORMATION, DETECTIVES ARRESTED PETRALIA IN A HOME IN THE CITY OF LAVERNE WITHOUT INCIDENT.
THERE IS NO FURTHER INFORMATION AVAILABLE AT THIS TIME.
