Fourth sexual assault in Lake Merritt area
on February 8, 2011
A female victim reported being sexually assaulted and beaten as she returned home at 10 pm Tuesday night to her apartment complex located near the corner of Jackson and 8th Street, which is two blocks from the Lake Merritt BART station. She said the assault happened inside her apartment complex.
This is the fourth report the Oakland Police Department has received of a sexual assault of a female in the Lake Merritt area in the past five months.
On September 19, two women reported being robbed and sexually assaulted as they were on their way home. One incident reportedly happened near the corner of 3rd Avenue and International Boulevard, the other at E. 18th Street and Lakeshore Avenue. On January 18, in a similar attack in the Lake Merritt area, a man reportedly robbed and sexually assaulted another woman as she was walking home in the evening.
All reports describe a similar looking suspect. In the most recent attack, the alleged victim described the suspect as an African-American male approximately 6’0 tall with a medium complexion and casually dressed in a dark long sleeved shirt and a dark cap.
Officials from the Oakland Police Department say this incident is a high priority and investigators from the Special Victims Unit have been assigned to the case. Anyone with information is asked to call the Youth and Family Services Division at 510-238-3641.
The police advise people to practice caution when going about their daily activities, which includes coming to and from home. The following safety tips are being provided by the Oakland Police Department as reminders:
1) Always be aware of your surroundings and don’t become distracted by electronic devices including cell phones.
2) Stay in well lit and populated areas when traveling alone.
3) Be especially alert when coming and going from your vehicle.
4) If someone or something looks suspicious call the police.
6 Comments
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This is unsettling without more infomation about the victims. And very general info released by the police. Is there any press conference. I take BART to Lake Merritt and may reroute my trips. 2 incidents on a Tuesday! I’ve mapped this and sending to you Dara.
Feb 8 (tue) 10pm– Corner 8th St and Jackson
Jan 18 (tue) – lake merritt area
Sept 19 (sun) – 3rd and International Blvd
Sept 19 (sun) – E 18th and Lakeshore
My home was invaded by a man yesterday morning across the street from Laney College. I was not sexually assaulted. But I was physically assaulted and he stole a lot of money from me. He said he would come back and kill me if he saw cops, but I of course called them immediately. I’m terrified to go back there, even during the day as he broke in at 8 am. I’m very afraid of the neighborhood now, I used to think it was ok, especially compared to 18th and MLK where I used to live. Neighbors, make sure you put something in your windows to stop them from opening, as he was able to open mine and climb into a second story window. Please be careful. It is terrible what humans to do each other.
Stacy,
Choosing to live in Oakland, you have to realize that, statistically, you will be physically assaulted and robbed fairly often. Oakland has the reputation it does for good reasons.
Also, try keeping your $$ in a bank. If you don’t carry a lot of money then a lot of money can’t be stolen!
I wish you the best.
POINT OF CLARIFICATION:
What does “sexual assault” mean?
Were these people raped?
Please explain.
[…] The Oakland Police Department is asking for the public’s help in identifying the man in this video, whom the police are calling a “person of interest,” not a suspect, in the February 7 sexual assault of a woman in the Lake Merritt area. […]
[…] Lakeshore Avenue. A similar third robbery and sexual assault was reported on January 18, 2011. On February 7, another woman reported being sexually assaulted and then beaten while returning home to an […]