Les Fertic, 24, has been charged with attempted rape after he allegedly attacked a woman in her car Wednesday morning in a UNM Hospital parking structure.
He is being held at the Bernalillo County Metro Detention Center on a $125,000 cash or surety bond. Fertic is also facing seven other felony charges from the incident.
UNMH security acted quickly after the victim, who is in her 30s, screamed as Fertic allegedly jumped into her car and attacked her, UNM Police Department Cmdr. James Daniels said.
"Hospital security was right there," Daniels said. "They detained him, and he was held until we got there. This all happened very quickly."
The incident took place at 2:26 a.m. on the lower level of the parking structure on the west side of the hospital's emergency room.
The parking structure is well lit and has surveillance cameras.
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Daniels said the suspect was walking close to the victim as the two approached the elevator and then entered together. He said the victim felt nervous about being alone in the elevator with Fertic, and she walked to her car as quickly as possible to unlock the doors.
For a short time, Fertic disappeared, Daniels said. As the victim attempted to lock her car door, Fertic allegedly jumped in and attacked her, Daniels said.
"We firmly believe he was trying to steal the car," Daniels said. "He ended up attacking her inside."
Fertic and the victim are not affiliated with the University.
According to metro court records, Fertic has a warrant dating back to May 29, 2002 for failure to appear and failure to pay fines imposed for driving without a license.
Crystal Carrasco, volunteer coordinator at the Albuquerque Rape Crisis Center, said 10 to 15 percent of all sexual assaults are committed by a person whom the victim does not know.
"This is very much the minority of cases," she said.
Carrasco said there is no cookie-cutter recommendation that can be given to prevent sexual assaults.
"Nobody made a choice here except for that man," she said. "The important thing was that she did whatever she needed to be as safe as possible."
The victim suffered bruises and cuts and was released from the hospital early Wednesday morning, Daniels said.
Fertic is also being charged with tampering with evidence, attempt to commit capture, and aggravated battery with great bodily harm among four other felony charges.
