Akeem Johnson is accused of raping a woman in a vehicle in an alley outside Godfather's Bar in Tustin as Bradley Stelly and two other men stood by and watched.
A witness called police. When officers arrived they found a female who had been discarded on a mattress in the rear alley.
"When our officers arrived there, they found a female who had been discarded on a mattress in the rear alley," said Tustin Police Sgt. Duane Havourd. "We know that she was impaired. We don't know whether that was by alcohol or if she was given something in her drink. That's still preliminary until we get forensic reports."
Police say the victim is a 47-year-old woman visiting from Australia. She was celebrating with a relative inside the bar. He left earlier in the evening.
The alleged assault happened in the early morning hours after Thanksgiving day. The men befriended the woman in the bar.
"I'm shocked and I'm very upset about it and I know that this bar has a lot of local people that go, so that really scares me, because not that many people from out of town come, so I feel like there's criminals around," said Tustin resident Vanessa Jerez.
Police believe the suspects are regulars at the bar. A witness provided authorities with their descriptions.
Johnson, 27, a Santa Ana resident, was later arrested. Stelly, 27, a Tustin resident, was also taken into custody, accused of being an accessory after the fact.
Police continue to look for two others who watched the assault. Both of them are described as black males in their 20s, weighing approximately 200 pounds.
"Both of them described as male black subjects in their 20s, approximately 200 pounds," said Havourd. They are both described as being about 5 feet 8 inches tall.
"That's the sad part: If they're local, we need to be more careful out there," said Tustin resident Eliza Rueda. "I mean, you just never know."
Police were reviewing surveillance video from inside the bar, as well as from neighboring businesses.
If you have information related to the case you're asked to call Tustin Police at (714) 573-3200.
