Recent Rape and Attempted Rape in Sebastopol - Be vigilant!

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A 51 year old woman was reportedly raped as she walked along Pitt Avenue near Safeway in Sebastopol on the evening of December 19th.

See the December PD story here.

Additionally, there was a reported attempted rape near the Joe Rodota trailhead in downtown Sebastopol on November 25th of a woman as she slept in her van.

See the November PD story here

It seems our streets are not safe at the moment. I urge you all, women and men, to be extra vigilant and take appropriate precautions.

Please report any suspicious activity to Officer Jacques Levesque or Sgt. David Harston at 829-4400.

Are there any men out there willing to help me post notices of this danger? Many women in Sebastopol are completely unaware of this threat, and the more vigilant the community becomes the more likely it is someone can intervene in the next attempted rape and we can catch this creep. I'm working on a poster, and I'll put it up later. This whole thing is dismal news this time of year, but I'm looking at a response to this shocking event as a Christmas present to the women of Sebastopol. A rape in town should be SHOCKING, not lost in the stream of everyday "news." Women are welcome as well, of course, but I particularly want to appeal to men to counter this episode of male abuse - we're all part of a culture that targets and exploits women. Let's turn the tide!

I was walking after dark in that area the day after the rape occurred and met a caring and active citizen on the sidewalk who was informing walkers of what had happened. I was very grateful to her but also concerned that there is no warning system in place by our city government.

I consider it an emergency in Sebastopol when someone is violently attacked on our streets. I'm scared! For me and for other women. I'm going to stop walking in the evening for awhile since this has triggered body memories of violence from men. Many women, too many, have a response such as this because we've lived our lives aware of this omnipresent danger. Is this just "how it is" or can we at least start making change?

I'm so grateful that there are people taking this into their own hands; posting fliers, verbally informing us. But the Sebastopol Police are being paid to be concerned for the safety of our town. Yet when I called the PD to find out the status of this problem there suggestion was that I should walk with someone else because "there is safety in numbers".

Is this how low the bar is in our progressive community? Can we do a better job of creating a community where people, especially women can have the freedom to walk in the evening by themselves?

Any ideas, suggestion would be most appreciated.

Selieta

Most women are vulnerable to attacks and rape wherever they live, especially if they are walking alone at night, in the dark. This is prime predator time, and although we might think that we're "safe" in a small town, this is a fantasy. We also know that many women who get raped, don't report it. So, there may have been others before this recent attack.

What kind of "warning system" might work, other than "Women, be aware; it's not safe to walk alone after dark". The city, county, or federal government cannot protect us from predators. We can't even tell by how someone looks, that they may turn into a rapist when we go to their homes, hoping for a "good time". Usually, after a few drinks, that lower our inhibitions which leads to unsafe choices.

We cannot afford to be "innocent" adults, and victims of predators. We must be conscious of what we're doing, the risks involved, and take responsibility for our choices. I have chosen never to walk alone at night, even when I lived in Hawaii. I have never been attacked or raped. As a child, I thwarted 3 daytime incidents that could have ended badly. I was taught to be very aware of who was around me, and to be wary of men. It has served me well.

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Posted in reply to the post by selieta:

I was walking after dark ...

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To be honest, I think it is very unrealistic to expect our tiny Sebastopol PD--used to writing tickets or attending an occasional break-in--to respond within 1 or 2 days of a rape with a policy statement. I suspect they were as blindsided as we were.

What I am expecting from them--in concert with our County Sherriff's Dept--is a Be Safe bulletin and also a proactive stance on finding the culprit. And like the rest of you, I am expecting this soon.

I received this email from the Sebastopol PD the day after the rape. You need to register with Nixle.com to get these alerts.

Advisory: Rape reported in the area of Pitt Avenue near Keating Avenue, on Sunday, 12-20-15, at about 8:15 pm. On Sunday, 12-20-15, at about 8:45 pm, a 51 year old Sebastopol resident reported that she had been raped approximately a half-hour earlier in the area of Pitt Avenue near Keating Avenue, in Sebastopol. The woman told police she was walking in the area when she was approached by a male whom she did not know. The man forced her into a secluded area and raped her. She described the suspect as a white or Hispanic male, probably under the age of 30, about 6 feet tall, “kind of skinny” with combed-back hair. The suspect wore dark pants, not believed to be jeans, and possibly a dark jacket. When the suspect fled, the victim heard a vehicle drive away but wasn’t certain if it was related. She reported seeing a small white car with a long rear window parked nearby prior to the assault; when the woman departed the area, she saw the vehicle was no longer there. If you were in the area during that time, or if you have any information regarding this incident, please contact Sebastopol Police Acting Sergeant David Harston or Officer Victor Aguilar at 707-829-4400.

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Posted in reply to the post by Ulunick:

Are there any men out there willing to help me post notices of this danger? Many women in Sebastopol are completely unaware of this threat, and the more vigilant the community becomes the more likely it is someone can intervene in the next attempted rape and we can catch this creep. I'm working on a poster, and I'll put it up later. This whole thing is dismal news this time of year, but I'm looking at a response to this shocking event as a Christmas present to the women of Sebastopol. A rape in town should be SHOCKING, not lost in the stream of everyday "news." Women are welcome as well, of course, but I particularly want to appeal to men to counter this episode of male abuse - we're all part of a culture that targets and exploits women. Let's turn the tide!

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Here's the poster that Nick put together.

I've also attached it as a printable PDF, a Word Doc and a Pages doc.

Please print it out and distribute widely, including street poles, bulletin boards and other common flyer locations.

Look out for each other!

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Sebastopol Police Chief Weaver just forwarded me a copy of the Nixle Alert they just issued. See below:

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Dear Friends -

On Sunday night, December 20th, at about 8:45pm, Sebastopol Police Officers were dispatched to a Sebastopol residence to meet with a woman who reported being sexually assaulted about thirty minutes earlier on Pitt Avenue north of Keating Avenue to the rear of the Safeway store. All on duty officers were assigned to this case. Some officers tended to the victim and her family while others checked the crime scene for evidence and contacted area residents, seeking witnesses. Pursuant to the Sonoma County Law Enforcement Chiefs' Association's protocol, the victim was taken to a medical facility so her physical and emotional needs could be addressed and evidence could be collected. The Victim was connected with Verity, Sonoma County's Sexual Assault prevention and response provider.

The following morning, the Sebastopol Police Department issued a Nixle Alert, providing information on the crime and the suspect description to 879 e-mail addresses and 649 cellular telephones. The information was posted on the Sebastopol Police Department's Facebook page and a Press Release was sent to the SonomaWest Times & News and the Santa Rosa Press Democrat.

The investigation is continuing. The investigating officers are working with the Department of Justice to facilitate processing of evidence. A bulletin has been forwarded to area law enforcement agencies seeking similar crimes and tips are being received from the public. Additionally, video surveillance from area businesses is being received and analyzed.

The suspect is described as being a white or Hispanic male under thirty years of age. He is believed to be about six feet tall and he was described as being thin with an estimated weight of between 170 and 180 pounds. He was wearing dark pants that were not jeans and a dark Carhartt-style jacket over a hooded sweatshirt. His hair was described as being combed back but big in the front. A possibly associated vehicle is described as an older small white car with a long rear window.

Historically, the City of Sebastopol has had less violent crimes than any city in Sonoma County. The last stranger sexual assault was reported in August, 2009. The Sebastopol Police Department's primary mission is to keep Sebastopol safe; a mission we take very seriously. All necessary resources are being dedicated to this investigation with the intention of identifying and apprehending the perpetrator.

While it is not possible to eliminate all crime, we wanted to share tips that may help reduce the likelihood of someone becoming a victim: Listen to your intuition when alone; Stay aware of your surroundings, trying to avoid isolated areas; Avoid going somewhere alone with a person you don't know well; Don't use headphones while walking and keep your cellular telephone charged and accessible.

We encourage folks who live in or frequent Sebastopol to visit www.Nixle.com to sign up for Nixle Alerts, which provide important information regarding crimes in Sebastopol and other situations of public concern. Folks are also encouraged to follow the Sebastopol Police Department on Facebook; all Nixle Alerts are also posted on our Facebook page.

The two primary investigators on this case are Acting Sergeant David Harston and Officer Victor Aguilar. They can be reached at (707) 829-4400.

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Posted in reply to the post by Barry:

...We encourage folks who live in or frequent Sebastopol to visit www.Nixle.com to sign up for Nixle Alerts, which provide important information regarding crimes in Sebastopol and other situations of public concern. ...

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Does anyone have experience to share as a user of nixle? (I.e. frequency and content of alerts? Usefulness?)

Mommy, what's rapist?

The thought of this notice all over town creeps me out. Parents, how do you feel about the appropriateness of your pre-pubescent kids repeatedly reading the word RAPIST?

I'd sure also like to hear if the sheriff feels the whole community needs to be told they are severely negligent adults who would ignore cries for help, need to reminded to trust their instincts, that there is this much a lingering danger and this much a need to blow this incident up despite being the one and only since 2008.

I'm willing to bet that he'd also agree that making the biggest eye-catch word RAPIST is the salacious, voyeuristic fear porn use of the word not an acceptable general community notice title and that 'LOOSE IN SEBASTOPOL' is also totally inappropriate fear mongering because it's not truthfully knowable where this person is, and considering the extreme rarity of incidents like this locally.

If the sheriff agrees a notice is needed, I suggest the main word being WARNING and that something like "Recent 8:45pm attack on a woman in this vicinity 12-20-15 by male approx. 30 years old, white or hispanic. Check PD for details" is plenty sufficient, the appropriate approach for kids, teens and adults, and no further details, community admonitions or implications of negligence are needed.

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Posted in reply to the post by Alex:

Mommy, what's rapist?...

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While I agree with some of your editorial suggestions such as saying "Warning" on the poster vs. "Loose in Sebastopol" and perhaps the word "attack" instead of "rape", I respectfully disagree with your idea that saying the word "rape" is somehow "salacious fear porn".

In my opinion, pre-pubescent kids in our media saturated society have heard this word and other words of violence many times over. Here is a real example in our own community--let's help children know within age-appropriate limits what it means and use the situation as a teachable moment.

As for teens, I sure hope they are fully aware of exactly what took place and what it means, since teens can be both victims and even perpetrators.. Waiting until a teen is older to have a full and frank conversation is way too late.

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All of us should get a whistle and look up when one hears one! It's an occupational hazard in our military...and they're above reproach...like our law enforcement...
enough is enough,

Goddess forbid one attempting to harm this old crone...I'll be sure to snag DNA!

WHISTLES! especially if one has no panic button on their key fob...AND FOR ANYONE VULNERABLE...learn S O S ...dot dot dot-dash dash dash-dot dot dot....

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Posted in reply to the post by gypsey:

I respectfully disagree with your idea that saying the word "rape" is somehow "salacious fear porn"...

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Where did I say 'the word rape' was salacious fear porn? I said a notice with the glaring title RAPIST plastered indiscriminately all over town was salacious fear porn.

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Posted in reply to the post by gypsey:

...let's help children know within age-appropriate limits what it means and use the situation as a teachable moment....

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Where did I say anything about age appropriate exposure? I said it's irresponsible to indiscriminately expose non-age appropriate children. No one has the right to force this 'time choice' into a family.

As I said, I would be OK with what the sheriff would say about the exact tone of this proposed wording.

I'm a Nixle user. Frequency varies, since crime varies. Content is very useful, especially to alert neighbors to theft, attacks or any crime, especially when the suspect is still at large and there's a picture of them and sometimes even their car.

Whenever I get an alert, I post on Nextdoor, and have had many neighbors thank me. I think it's a good "warning" system that is vastly superior than depending on a neighbor's call, which may only reach one or two people.

I don't think you can get too many warnings that may save your life or prevent theft of your possessions. I think electronic warnings can reach all of us that are on line, quickly and effectively.

Nextdoor can also help with lost pets, and is faster than going door to door, so I'm hoping that more people take advantage of this resource. It's better than a phone tree for getting information
out.

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Posted in reply to the post by BManna:

Does anyone have experience to share as a user of nixle? (I.e. frequency and content of alerts? Usefulness?)

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I don't agree with the below message. If a woman is raped the women of the community need to know it was rape. Women everywhere are at risk if there is a rapist, and need to be vigilant. The word 'attack' doesn't say what it is, and the word rape or rapist is not salacious. There is nothing pornographic, lustful. lascivious, lewd, etc about rape. It is pure and simple woman hating. This guy may have raped many women who may or may not have reported it. Crimes against women by men have escalated through the years. Women need to know about as many facts as possible in order to protect ourselves. Guys are certainly not protecting us. As a little girl in the 1940s in New York I read about rapes and became vigilant at an early age. Children are not stupid. They need to know how the world works, and this violence against women should not be swept under the rug as an excuse to protect kids from the truth.

Sandy

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Posted in reply to the post by Alex:

Mommy, what's rapist?

The thought of this notice all over town creeps me out. Parents, how do you feel about the appropriateness of your pre-pubescent kids repeatedly reading the word RAPIST?...

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Not one of these run-on assumptions and accusations has anything to do with the actual words, spirit or intention of my post. I agree with what you are adding to the subject, but it has nothing to do with what I tried to say and all your projections about what I 'meant' are totally off. I was talking only about community and age appropriateness of public communications of which there are appropriate limits for both. Period. You won't hear it if I try to explain any further.

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Posted in reply to the post by Sandy2y:

I don't agree with the below message. I...

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Today, I was witness to one of the "RAPIST LOOSE IN SEBASTOPOL" signs posted downtown on Main Street. The headline wording instills fear in Sebastopol citizens and tourist shoppers, and my fellow Main Street proprietors who saw the sign feel the same way. We want to encourage people to shop and dine in Sebastopol, not scare them away.

Also, the sign is factually incorrect because it instructs persons to "Call 911 for immediate response." For a true emergency within the Sebastopol city limits, it is faster to telephone the Sebastopol PD station directly rather than actuating the delay that occurs when the call is routed through a 911 call center.

I think the women of Sebastopol appreciate being warned about a rapist on the loose. I'm a little offended that both naysayers of the waring flyers have been men. Men have the freedom to walk places at night without the fear of being raped. Women are typically keenly aware of the threat of rape in certain situations, but not in a town like Sebastopol at 8pm on a Sunday evening behind Safeway!

Obviously rape is very traumatizing, and rape victims can be plagued with longterm PTSD. My heart goes out to the victim of this horrible crime. May she have ample healing and be freed from any long term effects. I have walked home alone from events held at night in the down town area on several occasions and was careful to keep an eye out and have my cell phone in hand, but even so, I will certainly not be doing so now. Maybe if they catch the guy I will consider it.

Yesterday I let the young woman who works at the yogurt shop know about the rape. She had no idea it had happened. I feel protecting our female community members and visitors is more important than keeping this very crucial information on the down low to maintain some cozy warm appearance for shoppers.

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Posted in reply to the post by Michael Anthony:

Today, I was witness to one of the "RAPIST LOOSE IN SEBASTOPOL" signs posted downtown on Main Street. The headline wording instills fear in Sebastopol citizens and tourist shoppers, ...

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Posted in reply to the post by norcalredtail:

I have walked home alone from events held at night in the down town area on several occasions and was careful to keep an eye out and have my cell phone in hand...

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If you have the Sebastopol Police Department direct dial telephone number programed into your cell phone, it will provide the fastest response time in the case of an emergency within the city limits. The "Rapist" flier instructs persons to "Call 911 for immediate response" which directs the call through a 911 dispatch center that can cause a delay.

My suggestion is that any proposed fliers alerting the citizens of Sebastopol about the rape [or any other serious crime] should be created and distributed in cooperation with the Sebastopol Police Department.

Nevertheless, all of the points subject to this thread are worthy of consideration.

I have to ask myself "What are the reasons women may be targets for "attacks"? I come up with only a couple. One is theft of a valuable item which could be a purse or cell phone, and the other is an attempt to rape.

The other question I ask is "How can a woman be vigilant of what or who may be behind or off to the side of her"? Guys who attack women or girls, probably have a plan, as most predators do. That's not to say that they wouldn't take advantage of a blatant opportunity, presented by a female walking alone at night.

A whistle can be handy after an "attack", but would you blow a whistle if you saw someone who "creeped" you out? What are some things that creep us out? Would you be creeped out by a good looking, well dressed man? Or a young man in a sweatshirt and jeans? Or more by a dirty, homeless man in rags, pushing his "home on wheels" shopping cart? Or a black man, who would stand out in Sebastopol? Tell us what creeps you out...
"...if there is a rapist" Women everywhere are at risk, since rapists, pedophiles and thieves live among us, although a reported incident like this, can bring our awareness to the forefront. Women need to protect themselves, by making wise choices, and accepting the responsibility of potential risks in unwise choices. Parents need to protect their children in whatever way they choose, not dictated by someone else.

Police do not actually "protect" us, other than by their infrequent presence, or by giving us a ticket for speeding or running a red light. Although we don't see that as "protection" if we're getting the ticket. Police "respond" to crime, and if they apprehend the criminal, they may provide some protection from that person....for awhile. But we know that many who commit crimes are out on bail, and continue their activities until caught again.

If a woman chooses to indulge in risky activities, like walking alone at night or drinking so much alcohol that her inhibitions and thinking is impaired, leading her to go anywhere with a man she just met, she is increasing her vulnerability for rape. I have a feeling that many women can share their experience of "date" rape, and feel completely innocent. This is aside from actually having a drink "spiked".

So, we as women, need to be aware of where we are, who we're with, what we're doing, and the risks involved. Life is a risk, but stacking those risks against us is not Goddess wisdom.

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Posted in reply to the post by Michael Anthony:

Today, I was witness to one of the "RAPIST LOOSE IN SEBASTOPOL" signs posted downtown on Main Street. The headline wording instills fear in Sebastopol citizens and tourist shoppers, and my fellow Main Street proprietors who saw the sign feel the same way. We want to encourage people to shop and dine in Sebastopol, not scare them away.....

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RIGHT. There were serious fingers in ears here to my warning.

The EFFECT of this badly worded and formatted notice was the warning I tried to make. The EFFECT is unnecessary fear mongering and is salacious for the reason that blaring the word rapist in all caps red is far more triggering thoughts of rape than expressing/formatting it appropriately... plus.... the huge blaring word rapist in all caps red is totally inappropriate for 6,7,8+... year olds to get hit with.

And how irresponsible is it to blare a fear mongering ALL CAPS lie!
Do the police say a rapist is 'loose in Sebastopol' - right now and maybe right next to you! as this wording implies? NO.

That makes this notice irresponsible, damaging, lying fear porn making the event worse not better. It imposes on the family right to choose when to expose their children to extremely violent sexual concepts and negatively impacts the community and downtown businesses by imposing a false perception of the true atmosphere of Sebastopol.

But it sure does reflect the fingers in ears, arrogant and imposing tone of righteousness frequently blaring at wacco. Now the whole downtown gets to feel it too.

The (acting) Chief of Police while Chief Weaver is on vacation responded to my asking if there was any urgent danger right now or any good reason to post such a panicky inflammatory notice as if there was one.

From:
James Conner
Police Captain #343
Sebastopol Police Department
(707) 829-4400

...There is an ordinance with the City of Sebastopol Municipal Code which forbids the posting of handbills (flyers, advertisements, warnings, etc.) on public property such as public buildings, lightpoles, power poles, etc....

...I generally agree that more ways of sharing information gets the word out to more people - but I would certainly recommend caution in choosing the words being shared.

At this moment, I don't believe there is a need for any citizen to produce or distribute a warning flier.

We encourage folks who live in or frequent Sebastopol to visit Nixle.com to sign up for free Nixle Alerts, which provide important information regarding crimes in Sebastopol and other situations of public concern. Folks are also encouraged to follow the Sebastopol Police Department on Facebook; all Nixle Alerts are also posted on our Facebook page. At last count, there were about 650 folks receiving Nixle e-mail notifications, and about 900 text notifications from SPD. I hope this information was helpful.

- James

Alex, THANK YOU for being PRO-ACTIVE in this matter! Although the damage is done by those with good intentions, at least now they have guidance from a "higher authority". The best thing that could happen is that these signs would be taken down ASAP by those who put them up.

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Posted in reply to the post by Alex's post of Police Captain James Conner's comments:

...I generally agree that more ways of sharing information gets the word out to more people - but I would certainly recommend caution in choosing the words being shared.

At this moment, I don't believe there is a need for any citizen to produce or distribute a warning flier.

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I think this is a very worthy conversation. I want to point out a few things. First, in Alex's original message she stated:

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Posted in reply to the post by Alex:

I'd sure also like to hear if the sheriff feels the whole community needs to be told they are severely negligent adults who would ignore cries for help, need to reminded to trust their instincts, that there is this much a lingering danger and this much a need to blow this incident up despite being the one and only since 2008. [emphasis added]

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As I stated, and the flyer states, this was the second attack in less than 1 month! That warrants heightened vigilance as well as an effort to alert all community members and visitors. While sending out a Nixle alert is a good and worthy effort, it is not sufficient as Christine's post below demonstrates.

That said, Alex's main point of the flyer more alarming than need be is worthy. Note that I attached editable versions of the flyer when I posted it, so it you are moved to distribute the warning, you can edit it as you see fit, or create your own.

There's also a new PD article about the investigation, here a few of the more interesting bits:

Walking toward a downtown grocery store, a Sebastopol woman said she stopped to answer a request for help from a stranger who grabbed her, dragged her into a darkened area and raped her, according to Sebastopol police investigating the Dec. 20 nighttime attack.
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The description so far includes a white or Latino man younger than 30, about 6 feet tall and weighing between 170 to 180 pounds. He wore dark-colored clothing, including a Carhartt-style jacket over a hooded sweatshirt. His hair appeared to be coiffed, slicked back and with a big swerve of hair in front.
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Near Keating Avenue, the man was standing on a sidewalk and spoke to the approaching woman, saying his girlfriend was distraught. “He made some statement about needing help with his girlfriend who was having some issue. And she (the victim) was going to try and help out with that,” Harston said.

She told police he then grabbed her from behind, around her torso, and pulled her into the secluded area. There is no street lighting in the area, and it was very dark.

The attack lasted no longer than five minutes and the man left. She got home and called police, reporting a rape.
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Sebastopol police also are still investigating a Nov. 25 attempted sexual assault of a woman who had been sleeping in her van near the Joe Rodota bike trail. In that case, a man reportedly opened her van door and repeatedly tried to force himself on her. The woman fought him off and pushed him out of the vehicle.

Sebastopol Capt. James Conner said DNA evidence produced leads regarding the suspect, described as a white man, early to mid-30s, about 6 feet tall and 200 pounds with a shaggy, light brown beard.

A sketch of the suspect provided by the victim can be found at https://nixle.com/alert/5537069/#sthash.3UFvUbSC.dpuf.

So, what I am hearing here is that the "wording" will scare away the tourists and scare the children. Gee, i wonder how the victim feels...or how any other actual woman weighing in here who has actually been raped might "feel" about the strength and the power of words that will keep others from having that experience. Pussyfooting around with the verbiage isn't going to make this event any less horrific.

I WANT the kids and women of all ages in this town to [PUT DOWN THEIR CELL PHONES and] understand the seriousness of being aware of who/what's around them..and if it takes serious language to address this serious event, then i am all for it.. parents, it's your responsibility to educate and explain the language of life that your kids may or may not be privy to on a poster. What's a rapist mommy? A bad man, my darling. Keep them safe! I have never feared traversing these streets alone and now, a dog and a friend in the evenings or midday on the trails seems like a really good idea...

Our town is no longer the lovely little village it once was and this event seals it for me. Our highway corridors and the publicity drawing the vino-tasting ilk, the unbearable traffic, the exorbitant cost of living and the shopping tourists also brings the flipside of that shiny, pretty coin: the mentally ill, the houseless, the recently incarcerated, and yup, the sexual predators.

Again, if you or someone you love has ever been a victim of rape, there aren't strong ENOUGH words to warn others ....ask HER to write the poster, and respectfully, wake up people...we ain't in kansas anymore...

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Posted in reply to the post by Alex:

RIGHT. There were serious fingers in ears here to my warning....

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Growing up in Detroit, I learned the following procedure for vigilance and protection that I shared with my step-children, one of each gender. Simply stated: watch your back.

When I am walking, I pay attention to my surroundings both ahead of me and behind. At least one time in every block, I stop and turn around to look for anything that seems out of place or suspicious. At night, I utilize the motor vehicle headlights of oncoming traffic which illuminate both sides of the street.

If I see anything or anyone that seems suspicious or out of place, I plan my route of escape and if that is not possible, where and by what means I will address this concern. Sometimes, I simply cross the street.

When I approach my car in a public parking lot, I survey the whole lot in the same way and apply the same principles. When I am walking in San Francisco or a foreign city, I am especially vigilant to look behind me and to be aware of my surroundings. By having this awareness and proactive demeanor, most would be perpetrators [if any] will recognize this and leave me alone.

I practice this procedure regularly and I have taught my children to do the same.

I was living in Berkeley years ago when a serial rapist dubbed "Stinky" was on the prowl. His activities were not publicized for quite a while at the request of the PD. In fact, we women were only alerted when an article finally appeared in the local paper several weeks after the first rape. Every woman I spoke with was outraged that we had not been notified at the very outset of his activities. As it turned out, I lived one block away from his center of activity. Although the police were never able to arrest him, they were pretty sure who the guy was. The best they could do was to have his name and address published in the newspaper under some pretext.

I think women in the community should be notified at once in the event of a rape.

Also, I would like to point out that some recent criminal activity (armed robbery, child pornography, prostitution) that has occurred in Santa Rosa and Petaluma has been perpetrated by people from outside the county, most notably from Oakland. Perhaps we're viewed as easy pickings. So it's possible that this rapist, if it proves to be a one-time occurrence, is not a member of the community.

I was also raised in a big city back East and I was taught to be aware of my surroundings at all times ... that included never being in a dark place alone and never being distracted in public ... when I asked my mother about rape she told me that it was a crime against women and that she would tell me more when I got older ... she instructed me to never go over to strange cars and to never allow strangers to lead me into hidden locations ... the training was possibly a life saver ...

Thanks for sharing this. I wish that all children were taught these skills.

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Posted in reply to the post by arthunter:

I was also raised in a big city back East and I was taught to be aware of my surroundings at all times ... that included never being in a dark place alone and never being distracted in public ... when I asked my mother about rape she told me that it was a crime against women and that she would tell me more when I got older ... she instructed me to never go over to strange cars and to never allow strangers to lead me into hidden locations ... the training was possibly a life saver ...

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Posted in reply to the post by Barry:

I want to point out a few things....

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A few things? You only addressed my repeated emphasis about the lack of urgency, unwarranted negative side effects and age-inappropriateness of the fear mongering big red letter formatting with one short sentence saying edit it yourself if you want and encouraged further illegal distribution, but bolded a secondary issue I didn't bold and went on and on about how it was wrong and way emphasized it...

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Posted in reply to the post by Barry:

(quoting my post) ...that there is this much a lingering danger and this much a need to blow this incident up despite being the one and only since 2008. [emphasis added]

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.. even though it was you who posted the article with this wrong information in the first place that I referred to! (and misquoted the year, but little meaning difference)..

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Posted in reply to the post by Barry:

....Historically, the City of Sebastopol has had less violent crimes than any city in Sonoma County. The last stranger sexual assault was reported in August, 2009....

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But the content issues of any publicly posted flyer are all now MOOT.

Why completely ignore Captain Conner's statements that change everything about posting this in public?

"...There is an ordinance with the City of Sebastopol Municipal Code which forbids the posting of handbills (flyers, advertisements, warnings, etc.) on public property such as public buildings, lightpoles, power poles, etc....

...I would certainly recommend caution in choosing the words being shared...

At this moment, I don't believe there is a need for any citizen to produce or distribute a warning flier. "

Moot.
You can't post this flyer in public.
The choices for legal distribution of this message are now 'other'.

I'm wondering if these posters will be taken down. If not by the people who put them up, maybe the proprietors will do it. Who do we thank for putting the posters up? Now that they've been declared illegal, who will admit to ignorance of the laws, and correct their mistake?

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Posted in reply to the post by Alex:

..."...There is an ordinance with the City of Sebastopol Municipal Code which forbids the posting of handbills (flyers, advertisements, warnings, etc.) on public property such as public buildings, lightpoles, power poles, etc....

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I wonder who on Wacco can recite all the ordinances in Sebastopol? Or even find a succinct list on line? I could not, but maybe you, or the police can.....Rape is a charged topic in many ways, and I appreciate people remaining respectful and not making other's wrong for being afraid, or for the normal human reactivity, but making a little spaciousness around feedback.

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Posted in reply to the post by pamelaL:

I wonder who on Wacco can recite all the ordinances in Sebastopol? Or even find a succinct list on line?

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City of Sebastopol Municipal Code (downloadable documents can be found at this link)