Police have released a composite drawing of a man accused of raping a 16-year-old girl in a flood-control channel in Escondido.
The girl told police she was walking alone on a bike path next to the flood-control channel near the intersection of North Ash Street and East Valley Parkway a little before 8:30 a.m. Friday when the man walked towards her.
“She looks at him, she sees him and doesn't think anything of it. Walks behind her, apparently puts on a ski mask and then basically attacks her from behind. Forces her into the bushes and rapes her,” Lt. Craig Carter said.
The victim said the man demanded several items -- police would not say what was stolen -- before he raped her.
The area is relatively busy. It's not uncommon to see residents walking their dogs or riding a bike. Several apartments, businesses and auto shops that were open when the crime happened surround the flood channel. Police say they have interviewed employees who work nearby.
A man whose business is close to where the teen was raped said several transients hang out along this bike path. It's a problem that he's actually complained about before. He also said people in the area don't usually report crimes they see.
“I'm sure somebody heard it. But I can guarantee you, I would say 7, out of 10 people will turn the other way. That's the problem,” said Mike Marte.
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The suspect is described as a light-skinned white male in his 30’s wearing a dirty white T-shirt and dirty blue jeans with a shaved head. He has bad acne on his cheeks.
The Escondido Police Department is asking for your help with this crime. If you have any information, you may contact the Police Department directly, or you may make an unidentified call on our “Anonymous Tip Line” at (760) 743-TIPS (8477) or via their website.
