Police report another sex assault in Calif. city; teenage girl allegedly kidnapped, attacked

Police report another sex assault in Calif. city

RICHMOND, Calif. — Police in a city still coping with the recent gang rape of a teenager are reporting that another girl has been assaulted by a group.

Richmond police Sgt. Bisa French said a 15-year-old girl was forced into a car with four males while she was walking down a street Friday evening. The suspects then drove around for several hours before stopping at an unknown spot, where two of them raped the girl, French said.

The girl ignored the four suspects when they initially approached her, but one got out of the vehicle and threatened her with a gun, French said. A San Pablo police officer found the girl around midnight near Contra Costa College, miles from the spot where authorities say she was kidnapped.

Detectives worked through the night, but French said they have few leads on the suspects, who were in their late teens to early 20s. One suspect was described as having long dreadlocks with the word “money” tattooed on his neck.

She said the girl did not know her attackers, who apparently chose her at random.

Earlier Friday, Richmond police announced a search for a seventh suspect in the October gang rape of a 16-year-old girl outside a high school homecoming dance.

Richmond police Lt. Mark Gagan said an arrest warrant had been issued for 43-year-old John Crane Jr. of Richmond alleging felony sexual assault. Six males — ranging in age from 15 to 21 — have pleaded not guilty to the attack and related charges.

French said investigators do not believe the two attacks are connected.

“Obviously we’re saddened by the fact that this has happened yet again and that it involves several suspects again,” she said. “We’re going to be working to ID these suspects and get them into custody.”