Neighbors relieved alleged attacker is behind bars
Las Vegas, NV (KTNV) -- An accused sexual predator is behind bars for allegedly targeting his own neighbors.
The suspect, 31-year-old Joe Lamrenje, has been charged with Attempted Sexual Assault with Deadly Weapon, Battery with a Deadly Weapon, Coercion with Force Sexually Motivated and Burglary with a Deadly Weapon.
Las Vegas police arrested Lamrenje Thursday and the details of the police report are very disturbing. It claims Lamrenje told detectives he was off his medication and had a hard time sleeping, so he would go on walks in the middle of the night. Those walks turned into violent crime sprees.
Lamrenje confessed to police that he had a fantasy of raping someone. So, he watched the victim while she was sleeping inside her apartment. The report goes on to describe how he entered her apartment through an unlocked sliding glass door.
"He was definitely a really sick person," says neighbor, Gretchen Koerntgen. "It's a good thing he was caught and put in jail so he can't harm anyone else. It's definitely scary to think it's happening where we live."
For neighbors, it hits especially close to home. Lamrenje was a resident of the apartment complex he's accused of terrorizing. It's located at 8101 W. Flamingo Road, near Cimarron.
In addition to the attempted sexual assault, investigators say Lamrenje confessed to a series of burglaries at the complex.
"I know it happens other places, but now it's here, and that's what makes it more realistic," says Courtney Koerntgen. "This place is full of families, single parents, and young women. It's just not okay."
The young woman who Lamrenje allegedly attacked was sleeping beside her 2-year-old son, who witnessed the whole thing.
When that victim fought back, Lamrenje told police he started striking her with a meat grinder "several times to her head, in an attempt to knock her unconscious so he could rape her."
Then, when her head began to bleed, Lamrenje confessed "he became remorseful and thought about apologizing, but instead ran out of the apartment."
That victim was rushed to University Medical Center with contusions to her skull which required stitches.
Another young woman who lives in the complex went to police claiming she woke up in the middle of the night and there was a man standing at her bedroom door. She says the man was motioning her to be quiet, but ran away after being scared by her dogs. She noticed her purse was gone.
A few days later, the woman began getting strange phone calls, which were traced back to Lamrenje. Investigators also found her stolen purse in his apartment.
Other neighbors also reported stolen items and some admitted to seeing a suspicious man walking around the complex late at night.
"It definitely makes you think about the need for more checks on people who live in these places," Courtney says. "Lock your doors, lock your windows, and do anything you can to protect yourself, because you don't know who's out there."






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