HATZOLAH of Los Angeles | Emergency Medical Services

Aug. 16, 2002 LOS ANGELES -- Los Angeles police say members of Hatzolah helped them arrest a man in connection to a series of attacks and horrific assaults on elderly women in the city's Hancock Park and Hollywood areas. Los Angeles Deputy Chief David Kalish said 41-year-old Gary Johnson was arrested at about 7:45 Thursday night after he was spotted by three men. They went to the scene and matched the suspect to a wanted poster distributed by law enforcement. "I finally had a visual on the suspect, and we looked at the photo and it was uncanny the resemblance... we followed him a little... he came charging towards the car," said the Hatzolah volunteer. He called the police immediately. Kalish said they arrested Johnson, who was allegedly going door-to-door in a neighborhood, in the act of trying to enter an elderly woman's home.

Kalish described the effort as "the L.A. Community at its best." Kalish said Johnson has been booked on numerous charges stemming from four attempted attacks and horrific assaults, and is being held on $250,000 bail. Authorities said their suspect preys on elderly women who live alone. He tries to strike up a conversation, then forces entry into the home. The latest attack occurred Tuesday, when an 87-year-old woman was robbed and horrifically assaulted.

See Original Police Wanted Poster