Sexual assault suspect arrested at Thermal airport

A fugitive wanted for sexual assault was arrested at the Jacqueline Cochran Regional Airport, police said Monday. Allen Raul Montano, 31, was arrested at about 5:30 p.m. Saturday, after Indio police received a tip from an anonymous caller identifying him earlier that morning.

Police had been searching for Montano since Oct. 24, when a sexual assault victim flagged down a passerby on a roadway in Indio, according to Indio police Sgt. Dan Marshall. Police were contacted and an investigation
ensued that determined Montano to be the suspect.

Detectives with the Indio Police Department discovered that Montano had made a purchase at a local convenience store around the time of the alleged crime and were able to download still photos of the suspect, which they provided to the public, officials said.

Police conducted a follow-up investigation after Montano’s arrest and discovered a second victim may have been sexually assaulted by the Coachella man, said Marshall.

Montano was booked at the Larson Justice Center on two counts of forcible rape and is being held on $110,000 bond. He is set to appear in court on Nov. 9 at 8:00 a.m.