Man Arrested for Assault and Rape Attempt
updated: Apr 09, 2012, 3:14 PM

Source: SBPD

On March 23, 2012 at 9:30 p.m. officers from the Santa Barbara Police Department responded to a call of an attempt rape in the vicinity of Milpas Street and Calle Puerto Vallarta. Upon arrival the officers contacted a 32-year old female victim and her 26-year old husband. The suspect had fled the scene.

The victim and her husband are homeless and ordinarily spent nights at Casa Esperanza at 816 Cacique Street. On the evening of the incident, however, they chose to sleep on the beach near the intersection of Cabrillo Boulevard and Calle Puerto Vallarta. Just prior to the incident the victim returned to the shelter to retrieve some blankets. As she was walking south on Milpas Street approaching the northwest corner of the intersection with Calle Puerto Vallarta, she was stopped by the suspect who was riding a bicycle. She recognized the suspect as someone who tried to sell her marijuana earlier in the day. The suspect threw his bicycle into some adjacent bushes and then pushed her into the bushes where he assaulted her. The suspect held the victim down and attempted to remove some of her clothing and spread her legs. The victim believed she was going to be raped.

By this time the victim's husband had become concerned and had begun looking for her. He overheard his wife yelling, "No!" and went to her aid. He located her and interrupted the assault. He struggled briefly with suspect, prompting the suspect to flee the scene but to abandon his bicycle and some other personal items including a work related hat.

Since the assault the suspect was observed by the victim and her husband on three additional occasions, with the last leading to his arrest. On March 27, 2012 at 7:28 p.m. he was seen at Dwight Murphy Field. Upon noticing that he had been seen by the victim and her husband, the suspect left in a vehicle. On March 29, 2012 at 6:35 p.m. he was observed at the Santa Barbara Rescue Mission at 535 E. Yanonali Street while he was waiting in line for dinner. The victim's husband attempted to detain the suspect, however the suspect ran away. Finally, on April 8, 2012 at 5:41 p.m. the suspect was observed by the victim and her husband playing pool inside Whiskey Richards at 435 State Street. They flagged down two officers who stopped the suspect as he was attempting to leave the bar.

The suspect was identified as Ronald Roy Gifford, age 40, a felony probationer. Like the victim and her husband, he is also homeless. Gifford was arrested and booked at Santa Barbara County Jail for assault with the intent to commit rape, a felony with a bail of $100,000.00. Additionally, he was booked on a no bail probation detainer.

MUG SHOT GALLERY

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