Editorials

Police released more information Wednesday about Monday morning’s rape in northwest Berkeley. 

A 31-year-old woman was raped about 6:30 a.m. Monday while she was walking alone for exercise on a street in northwest Berkeley. 

She was attacked by a man who seemed as if he were going to pass her, said Police Capt. Bobby Miller. Instead the rapist ran up to her, and grabbed her from behind. She screamed and struggled, but the man overpowered her and dragged to bushes nearby, threw her down and sexually assaulted her. The rapist left her in the bushes and when she got up she walked to the home of residents near the crime scene, and they let her use their telephone to call police. 

The suspect is described as a 20 to 30-year-old male of unknown race. He was described as 5 feet, 8 inches to 5 feet, 11 inches tall. He weighs approximately 160 to 170 pounds, and he has short black hair. He was wearing a sweatshirt that may have been green. The sex crimes detail is investigating the rape and requests anyone with information to come forward. Miller said there have been four “stranger” rapes in Berkeley this year.