Huntington Beach rape suspect arrested near Mexico

Police arrested a Huntington Beach man near the Mexican border on suspicion of rape and false imprisonment Sunday night, after a weekend manhunt, officials said Monday. Authorities said he may have been trying to flee the country.

James Ernest Bledsoe, 26, a parolee for a lewd act on a minor, was arrested in San Ysidro on suspicion of raping a 27-year-old woman in Huntington Beach early Saturday, Huntington Beach police said.

The victim told Huntington Beach police she was assaulted and raped at Bledsoe’s apartment in the 16000 block of Lynn Street. Bledsoe fled, but police impounded his silver BMW and reached him by phone, authorities said.

Bledsoe agreed to turn himself in, but instead went missing, and was last seen in Huntington Beach running from an apartment complex near Warner Ave. and Lynn St., police said.

But a tip he was running for the border led Huntington Beach police to send officers to San Ysidro and call for a search, police said. San Diego police stopped him at about 7:36 p.m. Sunday, but he used a false name, then ran when he heard nearby Huntington Beach officers had his picture, police said.

After a short chase, officers caught and arrested Bledsoe, who was carrying $2,000 in cash.

Orange County Superior Court records show Bledsoe pleaded guilty to a lewd or lascivious act with a minor in 2003. Police said he was a high risk sex offender.

He has also pleaded guilty to assault with a deadly weapon in 2002 and possession of marijuana for sale in 2003.