Man arrested in attempted rape case

Newport Beach police arrested a taxi cab driver suspected of attempting to rape a woman jogging near the Upper Back Bay on Monday afternoon, police said.

Luis Eduardo Pauli, 34, of Laguna Hills was arrested on suspicion of attempted rape and is being held at the Newport Beach City Jail on $100,000 bail, Lt. Craig Fox said.

The woman noticed the cab cruising behind her at about 1 p.m. as she jogged south along Jamboree Road, police said.

The car followed her as she turned right onto Back Bay Drive, passed her and turned around, then passed her again seeming to head back out to Jamboree, Fox said. Pauli returned, though, and passed her again, but then drove out of view once more, Fox said

Pauli had parked the car up the road a bit, got out and waited for her to catch up, Fox said. When she got closer, he ran up to her from a nearby service road and tried to pull her into the cab, Fox said.

The woman fought off her attacker and ran into the street where she found another passing motorist who helped her contact authorities, Fox said.

Pauli ran away into the Back Bay Ecological Reserve brush just off the drive and was later found nearby with help from officers in helicopters and others with dogs, Fox said.

The woman escaped with only minor scrapes on her arm, police said.

Anyone with information regarding this suspect or similar crimes is asked to contact the Newport Beach Police Department at (800) 550-NBPD.