PAROLEE EVADES DEPUTIES, DOG AFTER FLEEING DURING TRAFFIC STOP; SEARCH FAILS TO FIND PALMDALE MAN AT APARTMENT COMPLEX.

Byline: Bhavna Mistry Daily News Staff Writer

A man identified as a paroled rapist who ran after he was stopped for a traffic violation eluded a helicopter, a police dog and a half-dozen deputies Thursday.

Deputies said Charles Gregory Sergent, 36, of Palmdale pulled his vehicle over on Avenue R, east of Fifth Street East, and handed his driver's license to the deputy who stopped him when he failed to halt at a stoplight, but ran as the deputy turned his back. Sergent's license was left behind.

``He exited the vehicle and ran through the desert into the Crestview Apartments,'' said Sgt. Bobby Denham. ``Deputies set up a containment and surrounded the building.''

Inside Sergent's small white compact car, deputies said they found a .22-caliber pistol, a small amount of drugs believed to be cocaine or methamphetamines and bullets belonging to another weapon.

That led deputies to assume he may have been armed when he ran.

Officials said Sergent is a parolee whose convictions include robbery and rape.

Deputies watching the Crestview complex on Fifth Street East north of Avenue R were approached by a woman who said someone tried to break into her apartment.

Deputies announced warnings through loudspeakers that residents should stay inside their apartments, then let a sheriff's department police dog search the area of the complex Sergent was believed to be hiding.

``The canine was unable to pick up a scent of the suspect,'' Denham said. ``We discontinued our search after an hour.''

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Photo: (Color) Deputies prepare to search an apartment complex for a man who ran from them during a traffic stop.

Bhavna Mistry/Daily News