Sheriff’s deputies today arrested a man suspected of abducting and sexually assaulting a 14-year-old on her way to Alta Mira Middle School. The suspect, captured about two hours after the 8 a.m. attack, is believed to have tried to abduct a second student, according to the Sonoma County Sheriff’s Office.
“We are confident that there is only one suspect, who is in custody,” said spokesperson Misti D. Wood.
At approximately 8 a.m. today, dispatchers received a call from Altimira Middle School staff that a student was sexually assaulted while she was walking to school. During the same time frame, another call came in that a man with a similar description tried to abduct a second student.
Deputies and detectives responded quickly to search the area and spoke with the victims. Deputies found and arrested the suspect within two hours.
“These cases are a top priority for Domestic Violence/Sexual Assault Detectives and they are actively investigating them,” Wood set.
The suspect has not yet been named by the Sheriff’s Office. It is also unclear from the first report if the 14-year-old was taken anywhere by the man.
Deputies will be doing extra patrols in the area over the next week, Wood said.
“We know that parents and students are understandably very concerned about these crimes,” she said. “We recommend that students walk to school in pair or groups, be aware of their surroundings, and call 911 if they see anything suspicious.”
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