Bermuda Dunes man arrested accused of raping developmentally disabled woman

BERMUDA DUNES, Calif.- - A man arrested in Bermuda Dunes Thursday night for a rape warrant has been identified.

Gabriel Ortiz, 24, was arrested by Riverside County Sheriff's Department deputies last night around 10:10 p.m. near the intersection of Avenue 41 and Washington Street in Bermuda Dunes

The La Quinta Special Enforcement Team (SET) was conducting a burglary follow-up investigation when they spotted Ortiz around 9:30 p.m. last night in the area of Washington Street and Country Club Drive near the border of Palm Desert and Bermuda Dunes.

Officers recognized Ortiz for having two felony warrants out for his arrest, one for rape and one for domestic violence. Shortly after an attempt to make contact with Ortiz, he fled on foot.

Units from the Sheriff's Department Thermal Station, CHP, and Palm Desert units pursued Ortiz, and apprehended him about 30 minutes later. He was initially transported to JFK Medical Center as a precautionary measure.

Ortiz is accused of raping a developmentally disabled woman in January. The 20-year-old woman, who investigators say "functions at the competency of a 12-year-old girl,'' was treated for sexual assault at Eisenhower Medical Center. After speaking with investigators, Ortiz was identified as a suspect.

Ortiz was booked in Indio Jail at 12:58 a.m this morning on five felony charges, including rape, sexual battery, and terrorist threats.