Santa Monica Resident Arrested Following Alleged Kidnapping of UCLA Students and Brutal Assault of Separate Victim

UCLA Police arrested Alexander Schecter, 26, on suspicion of kidnapping two students and raping another woman. The suspect is not affiliated with the university.

By: AXL Media

Published: Mar 25, 2026, 5:25 AM EDT

Source: Information for this report was sourced from Los Angeles Times

Targeted Apprehension at Santa Monica Residence

The UCLA Police Department successfully executed an arrest warrant on Friday, taking a local resident into custody following a multi faceted criminal investigation. Alexander Schecter, 26, was detained at his home in Santa Monica in connection with a string of violent reports involving students and members of the community. According to police records, Schecter is not believed to have any formal affiliation with the university, yet his alleged actions have caused significant alarm across the Westwood campus and surrounding neighborhoods.

Kidnapping and Intimidation of University Students

The investigation was initially spurred by a harrowing account from two female students attending the University of California, Los Angeles. According to the victims, a man matching the suspect's description prevented them from exiting a vehicle against their will. The encounter reportedly involved direct threats of physical violence, creating a terrifying scenario where the students were held captive for an undisclosed period. This incident prompted university police to prioritize the identification and capture of the individual to prevent further predatory behavior.

Separate Allegations of Sexual Assault and Robbery

Beyond the kidnapping reports, Schecter is facing grave accusations regarding a separate incident involving a woman who is not affiliated with the university. According to law enforcement officials, the suspect has been booked on suspicion of rape by force and forcible oral copulation. The scope of the investigation has further expanded to include charges of robbery and battery, suggesting a pattern of escalating aggression and criminal misconduct that targeted multiple victims through various methods of physical and psychological coercion.