Off-duty officers arrested in connection with alleged kidnapping, rape

OFF THE WIRE
ONTARIO - Two off-duty law enforcement officers were arrested Saturday night in connection with the alleged kidnapping and rape of an Ontario restaurant employee.
The suspects are Anthony Nicholas Orban, 30, an officer assigned to investigations with the Westminster Police Department, and Jeff Thomas Jelenek, 30, an officer with the California Department of Corrections, police said.

Officers said a police service weapon was found in the victim's car and quickly led authorities to Orban as a suspect.

The incident began Saturday afternoon after the woman left work. Orban allegedly approached her as she was getting into her car in the Ontario Mills parking lot.

"Orban produced a handgun and forced her to drive to an area in Fontana," said Lt. John Evans with the Ontario Police Department.

The woman, who lives in San Bernardino County, was told to stop in the area of Base Line Road and the 15 Freeway. Police are still trying to determine whether she was assaulted after she stopped the car or while driving, Evans said.

Orban left the car after the attack, the 24-year-old victim said. The woman exited her car and went to a nearby business where she called Fontana police to report the incident.

Fontana officers responded and determined that the investigation should be handled by Ontario police since the incident started there, Evans said.

Orban allegedly made his way back to the parking lot in Ontario and called a family member to say he could not find his gun. It is uncertain how Orban returned to Ontario.
That family member called Ontario police, who met with Orban and Jelenek to take a report.
"The officers felt their statements were inconsistent and suspicious," Evans said.
While the Ontario officers were interviewing Orban and Jelenek, they received word about the sexual assault involving a firearm in Fontana, Evans said.
Orban and Jelenek were arrested and booked into West Valley Detention Center in Rancho Cucamonga.
Orban was booked on suspicion of rape by force or violence while acting in accordance with another person, carjacking and kidnapping, according to sheriff's booking records.
Jelenek was booked on suspicion of carjacking and acting as an accessory to a crime after the fact, according to booking records.
"We still have a lot of investigating to do," Evans said.
Detectives are looking at video from surrounding stores to find witnesses who might have seen the men in the area. They are also hoping surveillance tapes will clear up whether the woman was a random target or if she was being stalked by her assailants.

Orban has been relieved of duty pending the outcome of the investigation, according to a statement from the Westminster Police Department. He has been with the department for five years.