Gilroy
– A 22-year-old woman told police that a man attempted to rape
her as she was walking through a school campus, a mile from where a
16-year-old girl was reportedly raped last week.
Gilroy – A 22-year-old woman told police that a man attempted to rape her as she was walking through a school campus, a mile from where a 16-year-old girl was reportedly raped last week.
The woman was walking through the Brownell Middle School campus at 9pm Saturday night to get to a friend’s house when the man attacked her, striking her in the back of the head with an unknown object and knocking her to the ground, she reported. She remained conscious as the man pinned her down using his weight and tried to remove her pants, police said. In his hand, she saw a small knife. The woman kicked her attacker in the groin and fled; as she ran off, she said she saw him running toward Miller Park.
The attacker is described as a light-skinned, heavyset Hispanic man, roughly 6 feet tall, weighing 220 to 230 pounds, with a shaved head, facial hair, and bruises on both hands. At the time of the assault, he wore a black hooded sweatshirt, blue jeans and black Adidas shoes with white stripes. The man spoke English. The victim told police that he resembled the man who reportedly raped a 16-year-old girl last Tuesday near the Uvas Creek Levee after striking her head from behind, about a mile away from Brownell Middle School.
Because the 22-year-old woman fought the man off, there is no DNA evidence that can be tested, said Gilroy Police Detective Mitch Madruga, who investigates sex crimes. If found, the assailant would likely be charged with assault with intent to commit rape, he said. Monday, Madruga had called the sketch artist to schedule an appointment with the 22-year-old woman.
Madruga is still investigating the rape reported last week on the levee, following community members’ tips. Thus far, he said, “there’s nothing really solid.” A sketch artist was unable to complete a drawing Thursday based on the teen’s recollections because her attacker wore a ski mask. DNA evidence from the attack is still being processed at the county crime lab, and won’t be available for at least a month.
Anyone with information may contact Detective Mitch Madruga at 408-846-0350 or leave an anonymous tip at 408-846-0330.
