Sebastopol police seeking clues in reported rape

Walking toward a downtown grocery store, a Sebastopol woman said she stopped to answer a request for help from a stranger who grabbed her, dragged her into a darkened area and raped her, according to Sebastopol police investigating the Dec. 20 nighttime attack.

Eleven days into the case, two Sebastopol officers assigned to it are struggling for progress. Surveillance video, tips and a possible car connection have so far failed to produce a strong lead or a clear description of the attacker, at least in part because of the dark area where the assault allegedly occurred, acting Sgt. Dave Harston said Wednesday.

Harston, who is investigating along with Officer Victor Aguilar, said he’s hoping to be able to release a composite sketch.

The description so far includes a white or Latino man younger than 30, about 6 feet tall and weighing between 170 to 180 pounds. He wore dark-colored clothing, including a Carhartt-style jacket over a hooded sweatshirt. His hair appeared to be coiffed, slicked back and with a big swerve of hair in front.

Investigators are awaiting an analysis of evidence given to a Department of Justice laboratory and asking for help from anyone who was in the area that night or has information about the case.

“Otherwise, unless we have something tangible that pops up we are kind of at a pause point,” Harston said.

“Due to the fact the description was pretty broad, we have been getting a lot of tips but nothing that amounted to anything,” Harston said. “We’re following up on everything to the extent we can.”

Other avenues pursued by the officers included interviews with people in the area who said they heard voices but could offer no further information. The victim had told of seeing a small white car with a long back window parked in the area, then leaving after the attack. But that also hasn’t panned out.

The attack reportedly occurred that rainy night at about 8:15 p.m. on Pitt Avenue behind the downtown Safeway. The 51-year-old woman lives nearby and told police she had arrived home from work, parked and was walking to the nearby market for food.

Near Keating Avenue, the man was standing on a sidewalk and spoke to the approaching woman, saying his girlfriend was distraught. “He made some statement about needing help with his girlfriend who was having some issue. And she (the victim) was going to try and help out with that,” Harston said.

She told police he then grabbed her from behind, around her torso, and pulled her into the secluded area. There is no street lighting in the area, and it was very dark.

The attack lasted no longer than five minutes and the man left. She got home and called police, reporting a rape.

A description of the crime has been sent to each Sonoma County law enforcement agency to see if it compares to other area crimes, but so far there have been no responses, Harston said.

Sebastopol police also are still investigating a Nov. 25 attempted sexual assault of a woman who had been sleeping in her van near the Joe Rodota bike trail. In that case, a man reportedly opened her van door and repeatedly tried to force himself on her. The woman fought him off and pushed him out of the vehicle.

Sebastopol Capt. James Conner said DNA evidence produced leads regarding the suspect, described as a white man, early to mid-30s, about 6 feet tall and 200 pounds with a shaggy, light brown beard.

A sketch of the suspect provided by the victim can be found at http://nixle.com/alert/5537069/#sthash.3UFvUbSC.dpuf.

You can reach Staff Writer Randi Rossmann at 521-5412 or randi.rossmann@pressdemocrat.com.