Crime & Safety
Palo Alto Sex Assault: Police Release Suspect Sketch
Police said a man assaulted a woman in her 50s as she walked through an underpass Sunday. A passerby helped and called the police.
PALO ALTO, CA — Police have released a sketch of a man suspected of sexually assaulting a woman in a Palo Alto pedestrian underpass on Sunday afternoon.
The attack was reported about 2:50 p.m., when police were called by a passerby who found the woman in the California Avenue underpass.
The victim, in her 50s, suffered moderate physical injuries, police said. She had been walking her bicycle eastbound through the underpass and was passed by the suspect, who was walking his bike westbound.
Find out what's happening in Palo Altofor free with the latest updates from Patch.
The suspect struck the victim from behind, causing her to fall to the ground, and then allegedly sexually assaulted her. When the victim yelled for help, the suspect stole her cell phone and fled in an unknown direction.
The passerby, who didn't witness the assault, came to her aid and called police.
Officers found her cell phone in the 3000 block of Emerson Street about 3 p.m. Sunday and are processing it for evidence.
Find out what's happening in Palo Altofor free with the latest updates from Patch.
The woman was taken to a hospital for a cut to the back of her head and bruising on her neck. She is also receiving a forensic medical examination.
Can you help identify this man? This is the suspect who sexually assaulted a woman yesterday afternoon in the California Avenue pedestrian underpass in #PaloAlto. Officers and detectives are actively working on the case. Details: https://t.co/ng4EcNOnab pic.twitter.com/8ghdE1KKwa
— Palo Alto Police (@PaloAltoPolice) April 10, 2023
The victim described the suspect as an Asian male between 30 and 40 years of age, about 5 feet 5 inches tall with a stocky build. She said he was cleanshaven and was wearing a dark bike helmet, dark sunglasses, and a high-visibility yellow top.
Investigators are canvassing the area for surveillance footage that may have captured the suspect before or after the assault. Anyone with information can call the Palo Alto Police Department's 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.
Copyright © 2023 Bay City News, Inc. All rights reserved. Republication, rebroadcast or redistribution without the express written consent of Bay City News, Inc. is prohibited. Bay City News is a 24/7 news service covering the greater Bay Area.
