Crime & Safety
Police Warn of Sexual Battery near Rinconada Park
The woman had stopped to get the keys out of her purse when she was grabbed from behind
The Palo Alto Police Department reports that a woman in her 20s was sexually battered near downtown during the noon hour Monday.
They report that a man approached her from behind in the 600 block of Fulton Street, grabbed her buttocks under her dress, and fled the area on foot.
The victim had stopped near the front door of her parked vehicle to get her keys out of her purse. She immediately called 9-1-1 from her cell phone. Officers flooded the area but couldn't find the suspect.
The victim described the suspect as an male between 25 and 35 years of age. He had black hair. He was wearing an orange “varsity style” jacket, blue jeans, and shoes similar to Vans. A sketch of the suspect is attached to this press release.
Police say this is the first case of its kind, but want women to be extra careful. Palo Alto Police are checking with other agencies to see if similar crimes have occurred elsewhere.
Anyone with information about this crime is asked to call the 24-hour dispatch center at 650-329-2413. Anonymous tips can be e-mailed to paloalto@tipnow.org or sent via text message or voice mail to 650-383-8984.
