What to Know
- The attacker was described as an adult male, slightly heavy, and wearing a dark-colored hooded sweatshirt.
- The town hall was in the Marine View Middle School gymnasium located at 5682 Tilburg Drive in Huntington Beach.
- The incident occurred at a dead-end street that is used only by pedestrians and is flanked by well-established homes.
The Huntington Beach Police Department hosted a town hall meeting Wednesday to address concerns about a recent attempted sexual assault in the area of Graham Street and Neargate Drive that has left the community shaken.
An adult woman was attacked and pulled to the ground by an unknown assailant on June 3 at approximately 4 p.m., an advisory posted on Facebook by the Huntington Beach Police Department stated. The attacker, who reportedly tried to conceal his appearance from the victim, was described as an adult male, slightly heavy and wearing a dark-colored hooded sweatshirt.
The location where the incident occurred is a dead-end street for vehicles and leads to two wide lanes that can only be used by pedestrians.
Claudia Ross, a neighborhood resident, said the pockets of city-maintained shrubbery up and down the block are also impediments to personal safety because they may serve as hiding places. Residents worry that the attacker might have used the tall bushes to conceal himself.
Chief of Police Robert Handy and other department personnel were available to answer questions and provide tips related to the incident during the informational session inside the Marine View Middle School gymnasium.
During the town hall, police advised residents on how to stay safe on deserted streets. Officers said to immediately call 911 if they see a suspicious item. They said those listening to music should use one earbud instead of two. People are advised to use the buddy system and avoid walking alone despite their age.
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Huntington Beach Public Information Officer Angela Bennett said police do not have any new information to release. She said the town hall was an opportunity to solicit information from neighborhood residents and provide safety tips.
Police ask anyone who has any information about this incident to contact the Huntington Beach Police Department Crime Hotline at 714-375-5066, or anonymously report information to the OC Crime Stoppers Tip Line at 855-TIP-OCCS.
