Berkeley police are investigating the third case of sexual assault in under a week to take place near People's Park. Investigators believe the three cases are related, and have released video depicting a suspect they consider to be the assailant fleeing the scene of his latest attack.
"We do believe that these are all connected at this point, and that's the reason why we sent out this community alert," ABC7 quotes Berkeley police Officer Jennifer Coates.
The first assault occurred Thursday of last week and the following two late Tuesday night. A UC Berkeley crime alert describes the most recent attack, and provides a description of the subject.
The victim was walking on the 2500 Block of Benvenue at approximately 11:30 p.m. when she was approached from behind by the suspect... The suspect used a bear hug to restrain the victim and then sexually assaulted her. The victim chased the suspect through the Unit 2 parking lot. The suspect was last seen running west on Haste.
The suspect has been described as a "[male] in his early 20s, with an average build, with short dreadlocks, wearing dark colored pants, an oversized olive green jacket and a hooded sweatshirt."
CBS 5 reports that all three of the victims targeted are college-aged Asian women.
"A lot of the time when you hear of these situations it is somebody the person knows, and to hear that it's somebody completely random is scary," Berkeley resident Simone Stewart told ABC7.
Anyone with any information regarding the attacks can call the Berkeley Police Department at 510-981-5900.
Related: One Man Charged So Far In String Of Sexual Assaults At UC Berkeley Fraternities