Man sought in sexual assault

Woman, 26, attacked while jogging early on Dec. 12 near Newland St. and Talbert Ave.Police continued to search this week for a man suspected in the Dec. 12 sexual assault of a woman jogger.

The 26-year-old woman was running at about 5:50 a.m. near Newland Street and Talbert Avenue when a man attacked her from behind, according to a police report.

Police describe the suspect as 30 to 40 years old and 5 feet 11 with a heavy build. He had medium-length hair and was wearing a knit cap.

There have been no other similar sexual assaults recently in Huntington Beach, but there have been a few in Fountain Valley in recent months, Lt. Craig Junginger said.

Det. Rob Sweaza of the Fountain Valley Police Department said a woman was attacked in the area of Magnolia Street and Talbert Avenue, which is about half a mile from the site of the Huntington Beach incident. The Fountain Valley woman was attacked on her front porch as she was arriving home around 2:30 a.m. Nov. 24, Sweaza said.

The physical descriptions provided by the victims were not similar, Sweaza said, so it cannot be determined if the attacks are related.

Patrols in the Huntington Beach neighborhood have been boosted since the attack, Junginger said.

He said he thinks the community is safe, but advised women to team up with a friend while jogging and stick to well-lighted, heavily traveled areas.

Anyone with any information is asked to call Det. Cathy Meza at (714) 536-5970.

* LINDSAY SANDHAM covers education and public safety. She can be reached at (714) 966-4625 or [email protected].

20051222irtohqnc(LA)Sketch of attacker in sexual assault