Town Meeting Held on Series of Sex Assaults

Hundreds of residents turned out Sunday for a town hall meeting called by city officials to give citizens an update on a man who is wanted in the sexual assaults of four women in south Santa Monica.

The most recent attack occurred Jan. 14, when an elderly woman was raped in the Sunset Park area. Police said the same man is believed to have kidnapped and assaulted four women and committed two robberies since October.

“We live in such dangerous times, you have to always be careful,” said resident Jeannette Ross, 72. She said she was attending the meeting to learn how to avoid being victimized.

Police Chief James T. Butts Jr. told the crowd that capturing the man, dubbed the “Southside Rapist,” is the first priority of the department. A 13-member task force is working on the case, and more than 25,000 fliers describing the suspect have been delivered to residents in Sunset Park, where three of the rapes occurred.

But police efforts came under fire from two rape victims, who criticized the department for not doing enough to capture the man. A 40-year-old victim said police have been slow to warn the public. However, other crime victims defended police, saying they received favorable service.

In response to the attacks, tonight the Santa Monica City Council is expected to propose starting a “buddy program” to link up residents who do not want to walk or jog alone.