Search continues for suspect in alleged sexual assualt in Santa Cruz a month later
Briana Mathaw
SANTA CRUZ, Calif. (KION-TV) – The ongoing investigation into the alleged violent sexual assault that happened more than a month ago near the 400 block of Frederick Street
The woman survived, but police say the man who attacked her is still out there.
“At this point, we have not been able to identify the suspect through video surveillance in the neighborhood,” said Chief Bernie Escalante of Santa Cruz Police.
Chief Escalante stated that they are also waiting for the lab results of the evidence collected and tested.
“It happened in the middle of the evening. There were no direct witnesses. You know, so there’s a lot of factors for why, at this point, we have not been able to identify the person,” said Chief Escalante.
That update comes as concern continues to grow in this tight-knit neighborhood
“Everybody is freaked out. They don’t know what to do,” said self-defense teacher Calra E. Minor
“I used to be pretty, pretty really pretty relaxed about it, where like the garage doors stay open all day and stuff,” said Nicole, a resident living in the area, “But then closing that lately and now hearing about this for sure, a little bit more, more on guard.”
Sketches of the suspect are still posted near the spot where the attack happened
“It’s always felt really safe. So yeah, it’s terrible that this has happened,” said Lorna, another resident from the area.
“That infuriates me to no end, that there’s still this person out there that feels privileged, that they got away with it and that they can get away with it,” Minor said.
Minor, a local boxing instructor who teaches self-defense, is raising awareness.
“She was out at night, which she has every right to do. I was furious that yet another man decided that he could take advantage of another woman. I think every woman on this planet needs to learn self-defense training,” Minor said. “I’m such an advocate for each woman and each young person having the tools and the skills at their level to be able to stay as safe as possible and to defend themselves if they need to, so that they fight forward all the way.
Police say this case is not connected to the UCSC assault, where an arrest was made.