CSUCI student reports attempted kidnapping
Police say suspect threatened woman at knife point
By Daniel Wolowicz and Andrea L. Minium camarillo@theacorn.com

Police sketch of suspect

Police are searching for a man who assaulted and tried to kidnap a 24-year-old female student at knife-point from the California State University Channel Islands campus late Monday night, university officials said in a prepared statement.

The woman was walking from the university library to her car at around 10:35 p.m. when she was assaulted in the student union parking lot by a white male in his late 20s, officials said.

The woman told police she saw the man park his black Ford Mustang near her car and when she attempted to unlock her door, he grabbed her left arm and put a knife to her neck.

Police said the man told the woman to get into his car, but she was able to break free and lock herself inside her own vehicle.

The woman told authorities the assailant then drove away. She was able to drive to a nearby parking lot emergency phone and call police.

University police and Ventura County sheriff's deputies searched for the man, who was described as about 6 feet tall and weighed 200 pounds. He had short brown hair, thick eyebrows, a well-trimmed goatee and facial acne.

Campus officials said the woman told police the man was wearing a plain black T-shirt, baggy blue jeans and "skateboardstyle" black sneakers.

His car was described as a newer model with tinted windows.

Police released a sketch of the suspect Wednesday morning.

University police Chief John Reid said the sketch gives "momentum" to the investigation. He said his department is now working with other law enforcement agencies, including officers with the county's probation and parole services, to identify and catch the suspect.

"That's certainly important for us, and we're working hard on that today," Reid said.

Nancy Gill, a CSUCI spokesperson, said this is the first time a kidnapping attempt has been reported on the campus. She said it was not yet known whether the assailant is a student or if he knows the woman, who lives off campus.

In mid-September, a 27-year-old Somis man was arrested on two counts of sexual battery for allegedly assaulting two female college students- one from CSUCI, the other from Moorpark College.

Police said the man, posing as a professional photographer, allegedly lured the women off campus with the promise of a photo shoot.

Monday night's assault has some students worried. "No, I don't feel safe, because this isn't the first incident that has happened this year," said 19-year-old Kirsten Laubacher when asked if she feels safe walking on the Camarillo campus. "I don't even have night classes and I still feel uneasy."

Students said the attempted kidnapping is a reminder that even on the quiet campus, personal safety is an issue.

"It's scary to know that it can happen on our campus," said 21-year-old CSUCI student Annette Puyolt. "I'm glad that the victim got away safely and hopefully they will catch this guy so that it will not happen again, and we can all feel a little more safe at school."

Fellow student Linda Hernandez, 19, said she's "nervous to walk around the campus alone, especially at night."

Hernandez said the increased police presence, though, "is a little more comforting."

The university has an on-campus police department with 14 officers, said Ceal Potts, a CSUCI spokesperson.

Reid said three officers patrol the campus in the evening hours.

"We recognize that the 9 p.m. to 11 p.m. timeframe is really critical for us because that's when the campus is really starting to shut down," Reid said. "We have three patrol officers on during that time frame, and they're working hard. That's really good coverage for us."

The campus offers a nighttime campus shuttle system for students.

The university does not have security kiosks at its entrances and exits, but does have eight emergency telephones located throughout the campus. The phones, Potts said, immediately dispatch officers to the caller and do not require a voice response.

Reid said because the university is a public institution, guard kiosks at the campus entrance aren't feasible. "Day to day, it would be very difficult for us to restrict the access," he said.

Police are asking anyone with any information about the attack to call the University Police Department at (805) 437-8444. Calls may be made anonymously by calling 1 (800) 782-7463 or online at wetip.com.