Rape victim sees suspect on TV's 'Blind Date'

[Guest Banders Kennany]

BY LEO STANDORA

DAILY NEWS STAFF WRITER

 

A California rape victim got the jaw-dropping surprise of her life when she spotted her alleged attacker on a television reality show - and promptly had him arrested.

Handyman and private security guard Ulrick White, 31, had reportedly managed to elude cops for a year until his Oct. 22 appearance on "Blind Date," which airs in New York on Channel 9.

 

The 35-year-old victim said she snapped to attention when a female contestant referred to him by his nickname, Aswah, and heard his distinctive Jamaican accent.

 

The woman made a tape of the show and brought it to cops.

 

"We reviewed it here," Ventura police Detective Russ Robinson said yesterday. "She said, 'Yeah, that's the guy.'"

 

White was arrested over the weekend and arraigned Tuesday.

 

"Blind Date" spokesman Joe Schloesser declined to give details about the show's screening process for contestants.

 

"Blind Date," which is distributed by NBC Universal Domestic Television, is a half-hour reality show that brings singles together for an outing.

 

White has been sought since Sept. 6, 2003, when he allegedly approached the victim in a parking lot outside a Ventura bar as she was waiting for a cab, police said.

 

"He coaxes her into the car, she didn't really want to get in," Robinson said. "He initially headed in the direction of her home and then pulled off to a secluded area. That's when she started to believe that something bad was going to happen."

 

During the rape, the victim dialed 911 on her cell phone hoping her location could be pinpointed, investigators said. The sexual assault was recorded by a California Highway Patrol dispatcher.

What a sleaze. I've always believed some rapists should be executed.

[Tawren]

But not ALL rapists, right Banders?

[Guest Smues]

That's awesome he got caught by being on TV. That's not as good though as the guy who was on the "kiss cam" at I think a Reds game and his parole officer saw him and busted him.

[Guest Shutterspeed]

Even if he hadn't raped her, he'd deserve the sentence just for being stupid enough to appear on national television after committing a crime.

[1234-5678]

Note to self: Do not appear on national television.