Sheriff’s Office Investigating Attempted Rape in Isla Vista

Source: Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s Office

At approximately 12:15 a.m. this morning, October 3, 2018, a 22-year-old Santa Barbara City College student was walking near the southwest corner of Camino Pescadero at Picasso Road when a suspect emerged from the bushes and jumped in front of her. The suspect punched the victim in the face and head, grabbed her hair, covered her mouth and pulled her towards the bushes. The suspect then attempted to pull her shirt off. The victim screamed and fought back, scratching and punching the suspect, and managed to escape. She ran to her nearby residence and contacted a friend for help who then called 911. 

Sheriff’s Deputies and UCSB Police Officers assigned to the Isla Vista Foot Patrol responded and searched the area where the attack occurred but were not able to locate the suspect. The suspect is described as a male in his twenties, approximately 5’9” tall with a thin build. The male had dark skin and dark facial hair. He was wearing a dark hoodie over his head and dark pants. 

The Sheriff’s Office is actively investigating this case and is asking for anyone with information to please contact the Sheriff’s Criminal Investigations Division at 805-681-4150 or to leave an anonymous tip, please call 805-681-4171 or go to our website at at https://www.sbsheriff.org/home/anonymous-tip/.

This was a violent attack and there is a strong likelihood that the victim would have been sexually assaulted if she had not managed to fight off her aggressor and get to a safe place.

The Isla Vista Foot Patrol wants to take this opportunity to remind community members to use the buddy system and avoid walking alone, especially at night. If you ever feel that you are being followed or are concerned about a person or situation, trust your instincts and run/walk to a well-lit or more populated area. If you are going out alone, make sure that someone knows where you are going, who you will be with a nd when you are expected to return. 

Also, as a reminder, UCSB Police Department’s CSO Safety Escort Program is a free service provided to members of the UCSB community as a safe alternative to walking alone at night. Call (805) 893-2000 to request a CSO escort.

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9 Comments

  1. I lived in IV for about 20 years. Left for good in about ’96. Saw it all. If my daughter ever decides to live in IV I will be supportive. But I would tell her in the strongest terms possible that a girl walking alone in IV after midnight is irresponsible, doubly so if she is inebriated. Walk with a friend, call the UCSB CSO Escort line (available to anyone in IV, UCSB-student or not), or ask one of the foot patrol deputies to walk you home. To me it is the same as drinking and driving…with options such as Uber there’s no excuse. Yes, this is a bummer as walking alone at night can be relaxing and enjoyable. But not after midnight in IV. Again, my opinion regarding me and my family…to each their own.

  2. Does anyone have some statistics for women raping men? Are there instances of someone being thought unfit to hold public office for a history of sexual assault? I’m tired of being a gender apologist. You other guys who don’t get it, is it because your own history is embarrassing or downright violent to females? (I won’t say “women” since some guys attack little girls.) All men are not slime, we need to speak out and nail these losers that give all males a bad reputation.

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