A person accused of sexually assaulting ladies at a Framingham division retailer within the Eighties has been arrested after main police on a automobile chase in Los Angeles.
Police arrested Stephen Paul Gale, 71, on Thursday when he surrendered to police simply earlier than 5:30 p.m. pacific time, based on Los Angeles information retailers.
Middlesex District Legal professional Marian Ryan in Could recognized Gale because the suspect linked to a 34-year-old rape case on the former Hit or Miss Retailer on Route 9 in Framingham.
The U.S. Marshals Service, on the time of identification, introduced it will provide a $5,000 reward for data resulting in Gale’s arrest.
That prompted a nationwide manhunt which culminated in Thursday’s automobile chase by neighborhoods of Los Angeles.
Gale faces 4 counts of aggravated rape, two counts of kidnapping and one rely of armed theft of two ladies from the assault greater than three many years in the past.
Behind the wheel of a darkish Lincoln SUV, Gale drove at a “moderate rate of speed,” “obeying stop signs” as he led the chase on the 405 Freeway and metropolis streets, ABC7 Los Angeles reported.
“For the majority of the chase, he was able to avoid spike strips and PIT maneuver attempts,” the station reported. “However, Gale ran over a spike strip in the Westwood area and at least one tire went flat. He didn’t slow down after the spike strip and was seen driving around the congested UCLA medical area.”
The pursuit began earlier than 4 p.m. pacific time within the Wilmington neighborhood. Gale ultimately surrendered greater than an hour later.
Gale, who stands 5’11” and weighs about 200 kilos, was final recognized to be dwelling in Los Angeles and Las Vegas. He additionally could have ties to Arizona, Texas, Utah and Florida. He was beforehand linked to organized crime.
Gale’s “horrific” rape case has “haunted” the Framingham group for many years, officers stated in Could.
The alleged crime unfolded on Dec. 27, 1989, when Gale entered the Hit or Miss division retailer, exhibiting a .357 Magnum handgun and forcing two feminine staff to the again of the shop, police stated.
He made one of many ladies empty the cash from a locked protected, the shop’s register and her pocketbook right into a bag. He made the second sufferer lock the doorways, and put an indication on the entrance door saying the shop would open late.
Gale is then accused of forcing the ladies to take off their garments and positioned them in separate rooms. He sexually assaulted each ladies whereas holding the gun to their heads, police stated.
When Gale returned to the entrance of the shop, the ladies fled out the rear fireplace door to a close-by house.
Police collected proof and obtained the suspect’s DNA. A DNA profile was developed for the suspect and uploaded to a database in 2001, however there have been by no means any hits figuring out the suspect.
In 2022, Middlesex prosecutors and the Framingham Police contracted with Parabon Nanolabs to conduct an investigative genetic family tree to attempt to develop new results in ID the suspect.
After further police investigation, DNA samples had been obtained from members of Gale’s household. This DNA proof supplied possible trigger to determine Gale and led to his arrest warrant.
“Today’s announcement comes as a result of persistent investigatory work and a collaborative effort across law enforcement agencies nationwide,” Ryan stated in Could at her Middlesex DA workplace. “When I started our Cold Case Unit in 2019 I made a commitment to pursuing all available options to provide answers for victims.
“I am grateful for the efforts made so far to locate Mr. Gale,” she added, “and I hope that by raising the profile of this case across the country, we will locate him so that he can be held accountable for his alleged actions.”
