Hollister police are searching for a Hispanic male adult who
attempted to kidnap a 40-year-old Hollister woman on McCray Street
and drag her into an empty lot, police said.
Hollister – Hollister police are searching for a Hispanic male adult who attempted to kidnap a 40-year-old Hollister woman on McCray Street and drag her into an empty lot, police said.
The woman was walking in the 100 block of McCray Street at about 6:30am on Tuesday, Sept. 28, on her way to work in the Hillcrest Drive area when the man grabbed her from behind and began pulling her toward an empty lot on the same block, said police spokesman George Ramirez.
The suspect is described as a Hispanic male adult, approximately 5 foot 4 inches tall, unknown age-range, wearing a dark-colored hooded sweatshirt and dark jeans, according to a police statement.
After briefly struggling with the suspect she was finally able to free herself by kicking the man and screaming for help, Ramirez said.
“She did a very good job in screaming loudly and drawing attention to herself,” he said.
The suspect ran away toward the Meridian Street area and the woman reported the incident to police the next day, Ramirez said.
“She didn’t think any Spanish-speaking officers were working,” he said. “But we do have bilingual officers and a language barrier shouldn’t be a hindrance in reporting a crime.”
The woman wasn’t injured during the attack and police don’t know what the suspect’s motives for attacking her were, Ramirez said.
While it’s always advisable to walk with another person, especially women and children, if you are walking alone be aware of your surroundings, avoid low-light areas and trust your instincts, Ramirez said.
The area where the woman was walking is a high-traffic area, and Ramirez said it was bold for the suspect to attack the woman in the open where there’s high-visibility.
“If you think you’re being followed, walk quickly to areas where there are people,” he said, “and if ever in danger, scream or run, or both.”
Anyone who may have witnessed the incident or has information is urged to contact Detective Rudy Rodriguez at the Hollister Police Department at
(831) 636-4330.
Safety Tips
When Walking Alone:
– Be aware of your surroundings, especially if it’s dark.
– Know where help may be if you should need it – where a phone is located if you don’t have a cell phone or where people are.
– Walk in well-lit areas.
– Avoid doorways, bushes or alleys where people can hide.
– If you think you’re being followed, walk quickly to areas where there are people.
– If it appears a car is following you, turn and walk on the other side of the street.
Information taken from the
Hollister Police Department.
Erin Musgrave covers public safety for the Free Lance. Reach her at 637-5566, ext. 336 or [email protected]
