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Uploaded: Monday, November 30, 2009, 11:54 AM
Woman fights off assault on Stevens Creek Trail
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by Kelsey Mesher
Mountain View Voice Staff
Police say a 27-year-old Mountain View woman jogging Stevens Creek Trail on Sunday afternoon fought off a sexual assault after she was attacked by a man who tried to pull her into some bushes off the path.
At approximately 1:25 p.m., the victim was jogging along the trail near the Dana Street overcrossing when a man grabbed her in a "bear hug" and attempted to carry her toward bushes near the creek, police said. The woman was able to scratch the man's face, fighting until he dropped her.
Police spokesperson Liz Wylie said the woman jammed her fingers in his mouth and pulled on his jaw, "doing what she could with what she had."
The attacker fled southbound along the trail on a green bicycle and is still at large. Police believe he may have suffered minor scratches.
The victim called 911 with a borrowed cell phone minutes after she was attacked. She suffered no injuries.
"We spent some time on the trail last night," Wylie said Monday, adding that they checked out homeless encampments and have also reviewed known sex offenders on file with the city.
"No leads yet, but we're working on it," she said.
The woman described her assailant as a white man with dark skin, thinning hair and a full goatee. He was approximately 35 years old, of medium build and overweight. He wore a red sweatshirt.
Wylie said there is an average of one mugging or robbery on the trail per year, and one to two misdemeanor or sexual battery-type cases. An attempted sexual assault like this one, she said, is "extremely rare."
"It's definitely an isolated incident for us," she said, "but people should be concerned. We want people to be really vigilant. We're hoping that it doesn't happen again but it certainly could."
Wylie said police are working up a sketch of the attacker to be released sometime this week.
Police caution joggers to only use the trail during daylight hours, and to carry a cell phone with the police department's seven-digit emergency number, (650) 968-1661.
Anyone with information about this crime is encouraged to call the MVPD immediately at (650) 903-6344. Callers may remain anonymous.Are you receiving Express, our free daily e-mail edition? See a sample and sign-up for Express.
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Posted by Newton, a resident of the North Whisman neighborhood, on Nov 30, 2009 at 3:11 pm That lady is my hero. Kicked the dudes ass and chased him away on his little green bike.
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Posted by MW, a resident of the North Whisman neighborhood, on Nov 30, 2009 at 7:42 pm Oh, so "Police caution joggers to only use the trail during daylight hours." This happened at 1:25PM! Kudos to this brave woman!
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Posted by Mom, a resident of the North Whisman neighborhood, on Dec 1, 2009 at 9:40 am Good girl, hope you got some DNA from this creep.
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Posted by Daylight Trailer Jogger, a resident of the Whisman Station neighborhood, on Dec 1, 2009 at 2:43 pm ""It's definitely an isolated incident for us," she said, "but people should be concerned. We want people to be really vigilant. We're hoping that it doesn't happen again but it certainly could."
Umm...this happends at least once a year and it is a stupid statement that the "Police caution joggers to only use the trail during daylight hours." The afternoon is the daylight hours. I saw more officers out and about on the trail...yeah kind of late for that. I hope the city doesn't cut any police patrols so there is not more of this.
Signed - Daylight Trailer Jogger
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Posted by Bob, a resident of the Old Mountain View neighborhood, on Dec 1, 2009 at 2:56 pm Please explain what the difference is between calling the police department's emergency number and calling 911. When should you call one and when should you call the other?
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Posted by PeterMc, a resident of the Old Mountain View neighborhood, on Dec 1, 2009 at 2:56 pm Here we go again: Blame the police for not being there (I actually think there are people out there who think police must be omnipresent) and for making a statement. If the police said nothing, people will complain, if they say something, people complain, it’s a no-win situation for the police. Come on people!! Try to remember that we should focus our frustration at the scumbags who commit such cowardly acts.
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Posted by Mr. Nice, a resident of the Blossom Valley neighborhood, on Dec 1, 2009 at 6:32 pm Castration is the answer.
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Posted by sean, a resident of the Sylvan Park neighborhood, on Dec 1, 2009 at 7:24 pm Please explain what the difference is between calling the police department's emergency number and calling 911. When should you call one and when should you call the other?
Bob, you call the emergency number if you want help quick! when you call 911 from a cell phone it goes threw a series of towers to a very general 911 operator who has to find the location which she probably isnt familier with and then routes YOUR call accordingly adding considerable time to the response.
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Posted by RunnerDudeMan, a resident of the The Crossings neighborhood, on Dec 1, 2009 at 11:38 pm The last time we had to call the MV Police for an incident in our complex, they never showed up. Called them directly and left contact info, etc. etc. They never came to our door and never called back. Do I blame them for that? You bet I do.
They need to get that sketch out ASAP and post it along the trail. There are tons of us that use that trail - many of us nearly every day. Someone has to have seen this guy.
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Posted by Ev, a resident of the North Whisman neighborhood, on Dec 2, 2009 at 9:42 am Dear City of MV - it's time for closed circuit TV cameras ALONG THE ENTIRE TRAIL. DAY AND NIGHT (infra-red). For personal safety and medical emergencies. Cars have call boxes - we the MV pedestrians want camera and call boxes on our trail too!
-- a frequent trail user
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Posted by Spodeley, a resident of the Jackson Park neighborhood, on Dec 2, 2009 at 2:43 pm The last time I called the MV police about a suspicious person (who happened to be passing-through and stealing mail packages left on the doorstep) at our complex, they showed up within a minute and a half.
Unfortunately they didn't catch the guy.
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Posted by Ron, a resident of the Waverly Park neighborhood, on Dec 3, 2009 at 2:27 pm Geez people. Yes they know it happened in the daytime. Still, attacking in daylight is pretty brazen, so since they are not going to tell people stop using the trail altogether, they are telling people to be vigilant and that if this can happen in daylight, the night would be even riskier, especially since it gets dark early now and there are more people out around dusk and dark. As for full camera coverage, I would not mind but I think that is extreem for what has happened so far. You would need a LOT of cameras to cover the whole trail with all of its coverage and turns, and then you would have to have someone man all those camera angles all day long. Recordings would be useless if they guy has a hood on. So keep vigilant, and when they get a sketch out look call if you have any info.
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Posted by Stereeh, a resident of the Whisman Station neighborhood, on Nov 2, 2010 at 8:09 am To the woman who not only fought back, but cared enough about other women (and children) to actually report it: BRAVO! Thank you! Women who report public assaults are themselves frequently subjected to subtle psychological passive-aggressive treatment by a culture so accustomed to believing women deserve less in this world. Women need to stand up to police, friends, family, everyone, and demand equal protection under the law. Or, if we are not to receive equal protection under the law, our tax burden should be modified accordingly. If we aren't protected, we shouldn't pay for protection. If we didn't pay for it, we would know it wasn't there. The way it is, we think we are protected because we pay the same taxes as everyone else. But in reality, we're as protected as illegal aliens, because that's the status of women in america. Apparently, we have rights only if we agree up front to be subordinate and stay where we belong. And for the people who think cameras are a good idea, you just absolutely blow my mind, you really blow my mind. Good grief - it just gets better and better. You really think it makes any difference if it happens on camera? It doesn't change anything - women will still be criticized for being assaulted - it will just be an assault on camera, which people would watch on youtube and tsk tsk the woman for being anywhere without explicit permission.
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