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Mountain View police arrested an Oakland man Thursday morning after identifying him as the suspect in a rape and strangulation reported on Sunday morning, according to a statement by the Mountain View Police Department.
On Sunday, the victim was admitted to a local hospital with visible signs of sexual assault, according to the statement. The woman told officers that she had picked up a friend — identified as 29-year-old Lavel Powell — and that he had strangled her until she lost consciousness and then sexually assaulted her, police said.
According to the victim, Powell had called her in the early morning hours Sunday and told her that he needed to be picked up from a business near the intersection of Dale Avenue and El Camino Real in Mountain View, police said. She drove Powell a short distance, to the 800 block of Greenview Drive, before she parked and talked to Powell.
During the conversation, Powell allegedly grabbed the victim by her neck and strangled her to the point of unconsciousness, police said. When she awoke, she said Powell was sexually assaulting her. The victim said she was able to push Powell off and out of the vehicle and then drove herself to a nearby hospital.
Mountain View police detectives tracked down Powell and arrested him around 11 a.m. Thursday in Palo Alto, outside of his workplace. He was arrested without incident and booked into Santa Clara County without bail on charges of rape by force, police said.
“These cases are never easy, and what this young woman suffered is beyond reprehensible,” Sgt. Dan Vicencio said in a statement. “We are investigating this case fully.”
Police could not immediately say what other charges Powell may face, and did not provide information on whether he had any criminal history. Police say the victim and Powell were friends, but declined to elaborate on how well they knew each other.
As I read the account of this woman’s struggle, I was amazed that she had the strength and focus after coming to from being strangled unconscious to not only push this man away from her but push him out of the car. She is also very lucky to have awoken, since many victims of strangulation never do. There was in fact a murder a couple of months ago in Santa Clara in which the perpetrator claimed he thought the victim was still alive after he strangled him, yet that victim didn’t make it. All in all, this woman is both resourceful and lucky to have made it through an attack like this.
As a lifelong resident of MV (1948) I would like to directly answer your question.
Yes, when suspect elements have moved into town we have historically questioned them and their reasons for being here. In the 60’s and 70’s it was the Hell’s Angles and other bikers. “Oh, but what crimes have they been proven of committing” a few would say. They were finally removed from the Baylands area after public outcry. Then it was the street gangs hanging in public parks in the 80s and into the 90s. A few would say “These are just kids. Where else will they hang out?”. After a few stabbings the city finally cracked down.
Now we have an element, more spread out, but again suspect due to their choice to remain vagrant in MV. Not all are suspect, but many, an this is how it’s always been in MV, where we keep an eye out for our neighbors, protect our own and respect the law and order in our community. I’ve seen it before and I’m seeing it again, and with the historical results of the past I’m hopeful these RVers go the way of the baylands biker gangs and packs of gang bangers in the parks.
VOTE FOR THOSE WILL TAKE ACTION ON THE RVs!