Correction: This story erroneously contained an image of a bulletin concerning a different recent rape case. The Current has no knowledge that the cases are related and regrets any insinuation the image may have caused.
Yet another violent sexual assault has occurred in the Foothill Farms area of Sacramento County, this time within walking distance from the American River College campus.
A female in her mid-20s was tied up, violently beaten and raped at approximately 8:30 a.m. yesterday inside the Subway sandwich shop at the intersection of Palm Avenue and Auburn Boulevard, where she was an employee, according to Sergeant Lisa Bowman of the Sacramento Sheriff’s Department.
The attacker was wearing a mask and was dressed in dark clothing, so the Sheriff’s Department, as of latest report, has no physical description.
The victim is being treated at a local hospital for significant injuries, including, as reported by KCRA 3, “blunt-force trauma.”
Although it is not known if there is a connection to the I-80 serial rapist, whose most recent attack on Jan. 8 started with an abduction at the corner of Kohler Avenue and Auburn Boulevard, less than a half mile from the Subway location, the connection in proximity among the events is alarming.
The seeming rise in sexual assaults in the area is troublesome for some students.
“My concern is I come here at night and there’s really no security, no police or anything, after the night classes … I walk to the parking lot in the dark,” said Michelle Degrate, social science major. “I’m scared.”
Degrate said she has become more concerned for her safety with the recent reports of violence around campus.
An attempted rape also occurred near the Arcade Creek Trail at the back of the ARC campus Friday.
Some students, however, have grown accustomed to such reports and see nothing out of the ordinary.
“I don’t want to say it’s the norm,” said accounting major Kathy Kolshinski. “We live in Sacramento … it wouldn’t be unheard of.”
Koshinski did offer some advice to women in the area.
“As a woman you have to protect yourself,” she said. “You have to keep your eyes open.”
Anyone with any information concerning the assault is encouraged to contact the Sheriff’s Sexual Assault Bureau at (916) 874-5070 or to leave a tip anonymously at www.sacsheriff.com (keyword: SSD), or by calling (916) 874-8477.
Female students and community members who are interested in learning more about personal safety and rape prevention are encouraged to register for the Rape Aggression Defense class offered by the ARC kinesiology department, ARC counseling department and the Los Rios Police Department.
The classes will be taking place April 4 and 5 on the ARC campus. More information is available by calling (916) 484-8481. The class is $20 for students and $25 for community members.
