CITY-WIDE RAPE ALERTS

The following descriptions are limited to rapes by unknown assailants that led to a police-generated Community Alert. Further information about total city reported rape numbers can be accessed through the SCPD (Santa Cruz Police Department) website at www.ci.santa-cruz.ca.us/pd. Further information about on-campus reported rape numbers can be accessed through the campus police website at www2.ucsc.edu/police.

Academic Year 2008-2009

DATE: April 27, 2009 at 1:10 AM
LOCATION: 1500 block of Pacific Avenue
Article taken from Santa Cruz Sentinel. A Rape Alert for this incident was not distributed.

SANTA CRUZ - A 27-year-old Santa Cruz woman reported that she was the victim of an attempted sexual assault early Monday morning on the 1500 block of Pacific Avenue, according to police.
Officers responded to a report of a woman screaming at 1:10 a.m. on Pacific but were unable to locate anyone, police spokesman Zach Friend said.

Forty minutes later, a woman called saying she fled on her bike from the scene of the attempted sexual assault and met with friends before calling police.

According to victim and witness statements, the woman was returning from a downtown bar to pick up her locked bicycle in the 1500 Block of Pacific Avenue. Immediately after unlocking her bike she felt someone come from behind her and grab her, Friend said. The victim screamed for the suspect to get off of her prompting a nearby resident to call police.

The suspect overpowered her, pushed her to the ground and reached up her skirt in an attempt to remove her underwear, Friend said. The victim's screaming caused a few lights to turn on in a nearby apartment complex, which appeared to scare the suspect away.

The victim said the suspect fled on a bicycle northbound on Pacific Avenue toward Water Street.

Officers canvassed the area from highways 9 and 1 to downtown, including the levee area, but were unable to locate anyone matching the description. Detectives contacted businesses in the area this morning to obtain video footage but were unable to locate anything of "evidentiary value," Friend said.

The suspect is described as a Latino male, 20 to 30 years old, 5 feet, 5 inches tall, with a medium build, wearing a green plaid jacket and black sweatpants.

The department has not received any recent reports of this type of attack. Santa Cruz Police Department officers intend to increase patrols downtown in the late evening and early morning hours, Friend said.

Police ask anyone with additional information to contact the police investigations at 420-5820 or the anonymous tip line at 420-5995.

Academic Year 2007-08

COMMUNITY ALERT
DATE/TIME: March 19, 2008 at 6:00 am
LOCATION: 2222 E Cliff Drive
TOPIC: Sexual Assault
UPDATE CASE NUMBER: 08S-02311
Assailant: Male - Hispanic 5'9'', Age 18-25, Shaved Head, Blue Shirt, Black zippered hooded sweatshirt with grey or light-colored writing or design.
VICTIM: Female Santa Cruz Resident, Age 24
INFORMATION:

Based on information from the victim, police investigators are releasing an updated suspect description. The suspect is a Hispanic male, height of 5’9”, 18-25 years old with a shaved head, wearing a blue shirt and black zippered hooded sweatshirt with grey or light-colored writing or design.

Investigators located a knife in a trash can in the parking lot of the complex. It is unclear whether was the knife
was the weapon used. Investigators are obtaining fingerprints from the recovered knife to compare to prints on
file in the fingerprints database.

BACKGROUND:

On March 19th, 2008 at approximately 6:00 am, a female was sexually assaulted at the Kind Grind coffee shop at 2222 E Cliff Drive. The victim unlocked the door to the business at 5:45 am and the suspect entered through the unlocked door shortly after. The suspect sexually assaulted the victim and robbed her. He had a knife and
attempted to lock the victim in a storage freezer. The suspect then fled, possibly towards the harbor and then on a bicycle. He is described as a Latino male with a shaved head. Santa Cruz Police plan to release additional details once the victim has been examined and received counseling.

Two Santa Cruz Police officers arrived within 2 minutes of the call from the victim. Within 5 minutes of the call,
dispatchers broadcast a Be On the Lookout bulletin with the suspect’s description to all agencies in the county. Santa Cruz Police requested assistance from the State Parks Police and a dog was brought in and tracked the suspect in the direction of the harbor before the scent disappeared.

Santa Cruz Police have every available detective on scene, where they are expected to remain for the rest of the day.

The crime scene team will process any additional physical evidence at the scene and forward it to the Department of Justice. Santa Cruz detectives are currently reviewing sex registrants in the area for possible involvement.

Investigators will also review video from nearby businesses for any evidence.

Santa Cruz Police are increasing patrols in the area and coordinating actively with Port District officials, including the Harbormaster and the Harbor Police. Police and the Commission for the Prevention of Violence Against Women are coordinating and will be distributing posters in the area today. Police have contacted business owners in the area so their employees can be aware of the incident.

Anyone who was in the area at the time of the incident is encouraged to call the Santa Cruz Police Department
Investigations Section at (831) 420-5820.

To leave ANONYMOUS information, please call our TIP LINE (831) 420-5995

Academic Year 2006-07

COMMUNITY ALERT
DATE/TIME: April 25, 2007 -- approximately 2:00 a.m.
LOCATION: 100 Block of Cathcart St.
CASE NUMBER: 07S-03983
INVOLVED SUBJECTS:
Assailant: White Male, 30 years old, Tall, Thin, with Long Brown Hair and a Gray Sweatshirt
VICTIM: Santa Cruz Resident (Female) Early 50s
INFORMATION: 

On April 25, 2007 at approximately 2:00 a.m., a female Santa Cruz resident was the victim of a sexual assault while walking to a store downtown. The victim initially reported the incident to family and then contacted the Santa Cruz Police Department approximately 45 minutes after the occurrence. Officers spoke to the victim and received the following information:

The female victim was walking to a store after leaving her downtown residence when an unknown suspect grabbed her and physically forced her against the side of a building. The victim fought with the attacker however she was overpowered by the suspect and sexually assaulted. No weapon was seen during the attack. After arriving at the victim’s location, officers transported the victim to a local hospital and remained with her until she was treated and later released. The Santa Cruz Police Department is reviewing video footage from surrounding businesses to attempt to gain a better description of the suspect or any potential vehicle used to get away. It is unclear which direction the suspect fled after the attack. Officers will be working with the victim to obtain a sketch. The Santa Cruz Police Department is partnering with the Commission for the Prevention of Violence Against Women to distribute fliers in the general vicinity of the attack.

The Santa Cruz Police Department Investigations Section is actively seeking any witnesses to the incident. If you have any additional information, please contact Santa Cruz Police Investigations at (831) 420-5820.

To Leave ANONYMOUS information regarding this incident, please call our TIP LINE (831) 420-5995
 

Academic Year 2005-06

December 15, 2005
UCSC Police have posted details on that office's web site about a sexual assault that occurred on Thursday, December 15, at approximately 7:30 a.m. on Chinquapin and Red Hill Roads (the fire roads north of the main campus). Police report that a male subject sexually assaulted a female jogger. The suspect is identified as a "white male, mid-forties, 5'-10", weighing 140 pounds with shoulder length un-kept brown hair, and unshaven."
For the complete bulletin, please go to: http://police.ucsc.edu/communityalert121505.html

Saturday, October 8, 2005
On Saturday, October 8, 2005, at approximately 2:00 p.m.in Pogonip, (the open space lands on the left as you travel off campus on Coolidge Drive) a male attempted to sexually assault a female hiker/jogger. The description of the suspect – a Latino male, mid-twenties, 5'-2” to 5'-6”, weighing 140 pounds with brown hair, and possibly having a goatee, primarily Spanish-speaking – matches the description of an assailant who was reported to have sexually assaulted a female pedestrian two days later, at approximately 10:00 p.m. on the night of Monday, October 10, 2005, on the San Lorenzo River levee pathway near Highway 1.

The attempted Pogonip assault took place on a busy Saturday afternoon in broad daylight. All visitors to Pogonip are encouraged to be alert and aware and report any suspicious activity immediately by calling 911. Trail users who walk or jog alone should be aware that some of the trails, such as Pogonip Creek, Fern, Lookout and Limekiln Trails are more remote and less well traveled. The main trails, Spring, Brayshaw and Rincon, are often more well traveled.

REPORT ANY SUSPICIOUS ACTIVITY IMMEDIATELY BY CALLING 911
 

Academic Year 2004-2005

September 20, 2004
On Early Sunday morning, at approximately 2:30 AM, a female adult resident of Santa Cruz was walking alone in the area of Broadway and San Lorenzo Blvd when the suspect, who was walking towards her from the downton area, grabbed her and threw her down. Based on statements and subsequent actions by the suspect, it was evident that the suspect intended to rape the victim. The victim fought back and thought that she might been able to scratch the the suspect's face. A neighbor heard the victim's screams, came out and scared the suspect away. The victim did not require medical attention.

The suspect is described as a white male adult, late 20s, short spiky hair, wearing a red and blue jacket and jeans. The suspect may have scratches on his face as a result of the victim being able to scratch his face with her fingernails.

The Santa Cruz Police Department is requesting information from anybody that might have knowledge of this incident, especially if they are aware of any similarly described males with scratches on their faces. For additional information, contact: Detective Sgt. Goodwin at (831) 420-5820 or you can leave ANONYMOUS information regarding this incident, please call our TIP LINE (831) 420-5995.

September 12, 2004
NOTICE: Subject Arrested on 9/22/2004
On Sunday, Sept. 12, 2004, at approximately 2:39 PM, a woman was in the McHenry Library at UCSC when a male subject came from behind, struck her on the side of her head and caused her to collapse to the floor. The suspect then put his hand down her pants and left when she screamed. Several witnesses tried to detain the subject but he struck one of them and displayed a knife to others.

The woman described the man as Hispanic, in his late 40's, about 5'-10” tall with a stocky/heavy build, black hair (short but thick and bushy), brown eyes and wearing a long sleeve navy blue button down shirt and blue jeans. He was last seen driving from the area in a black 1996 Ford Mustang, CA. 3SLX106.

If you have any information regarding this incident or the suspect, please contact UCSC PD Detective Terri Edwards at (831) 459-2889 or (831) 459-2231

Academic Year 2003-04

SEXUAL BATTERY
On Saturday, March 13, 2004, at approximately 12:10 PM, a woman was walking with her child on High Street near Western Drive when a man approached her and grabbed her buttocks. The man then ran away from the woman southbound on High Street.

The woman described the man as Hispanic, approximately 25 years old, about 5'4" or 5'5" tall with a stocky build, dark hair and dark eyes, dark complected, clean shaven, with no visible scars, marks or tattoos. He was wearing a dark blue cap with the brim forward and no logo or letter showing, a large white baggy crew sweatshirt with no writing, black jeans and black leather high top tennis shoes.

If you have any information regarding this incident or the suspect please contact Sgt. Brad Goodwin with the Santa Cruz Police Department at (831) 420-5820


KIDNAPPING AND SEXUAL ASSAULT 2/24/04
On Tuesday 2/24/04 between 2:30 and 2:45 pm, a female was kidnapped and sexually assaulted in the kidnappers van. The woman was walking in the Cliff Street and Third Street area when she was physically dragged into a brown full size van. One of the 3 occupants of the van raped her. They then drove to an unknown Street near Cabrillo College and allowed her to leave the van.

The suspects are described as 3 Latino males approximately 25 years old. The male that forced the woman into the van is described as approximately 6 feet 2 inches and 250 lbs. The male who sexually
assaulted the woman is reported to have thick or bushy eyebrows.

Please contact the Santa Cruz Police Department Investigations Unit at 420-5820 or the anonymous Tip Line at 420-5995 if you have any information.


SEXUAL BATTERY
1/24/04: Between 7:15 and 7:30pm, a man described as Latino, between 25 and 30 years old with a thin build, sexually battered two women in the area of Walnut and Grover Avenues (near Santa Cruz High School). Anyone with any information is asked to contact the SCPD at 420-5820.


SEXUAL BATTERY
1/13/04: About 2:44 am, Tuesday January 13, three males confronted and groped a female in the vicinity of Barson Street and Ocean Street. The woman was returning home from downtown when the men confronted her. They are described as white males, 20-30 years old with shaved heads. The suspects do not appear to be related to the men in previous reports. The woman was able to get away without physical injury


ATTEMPTED RAPE
1/11/04: About 1:30 am, Sunday, January 11, a man attempted to rape a woman in the elevator of the Front Street Parking garage at Front Street and Soquel. The woman had met the man a very short while earlier. The man, described as a Latino male, 20-25 years old, about 5 foot, six inches high, wearing a light blue hooded sweatshirt, baseball cap and blue denim pants, groped the woman, attempting to remove some of her clothes. She was able to get away without any physical injury.

This incident appears to be unrelated to other recently reported attempted sexual assaults.


ATTEMPTED RAPE ALERT!!!
1/2/04: On Friday January 2, at 1:45 in the afternoon, a man attacked a woman as she was getting into her car in the parking lot behind Logos Bookstore (1119 Pacific Avenue) Police are treating this as an attempted sexual assault.

The woman fought the man off and reported promptly to the police.

The suspect is described as white male 30-35 years, 5' 11'' to 6' tall with a full face dark brown beard. He was wearing a black beanie, black hooded sweatshirt, black knitted gloves with a ribbed wrist area and dark, stone washed blue jeans. He wore large, square-framed sunglasses.

For additional information contact Detective Ken Deeg at (831) 420-5838.

Anonymous information about the incident can be left at the police tip line at (831) 420-5995.

Police do not believe this assailant is the same man or men who attempted to rape the three women during September 2003 as described below.


Previous Attempted Rapes:
9/15: Possibly the same man as in the above description attempted to rape a third woman in the County Jail parking lot (opposite the County Building) at 9pm on Sunday September 7. The woman succesfully defended herself against the man who threatened her and tried to hold her down. The Santa Cruz Police Department asks anyone with any information to contact them at 420- 5820 or the anonymous tip line at 420-5995.

Women are encouraged to be on extra alert as well as consider taking a self-defense class, which are offered free on campus and in the community.

9/5/03: The man is described as a clean-shaven, bushy-haired either dark-skinned white or Latino male between 18 and 30 years old, about 5 feet 9 inches and 180 pounds. One women described him as "pudgy". As of this time no suspects have been arrested. Police have increased patrols in the area. (9/5/03)

9/1/03 and 9/2/03: A man attempted to rape two women in two separate locations near Pacific Avenue on Monday evening, September 1 and Tuesday morning September 2, 2003. Both women succesfully defended themselves against the assailant by yelling loudly and fighting him off. The first attempted rape occurred in the parking lot behind New Leaf Market on Pacific Avenue at 10pm. The man grabbed the women from behind and attempted to drag her to a secluded area. The second attempted rape was at 9am on the third level of the Locust Street parking garage.