Woman Raped In Pacific Beach Alley – Suspect Released, Mistaken Identity?
September 21, 2007 2 CommentsA 45-year-old Pacific Beach man who was arrested early Friday on suspicion of raping a 21-year-old woman has been released from jail. No charges were filed by the county District Attorney’s office.
Timothy Michael Sullivan was released without having to post bail on Monday night. In an e-mail to the San Diego Union-Tribune this morning, he said he was innocent.
In his email, Sullivan said: “With a spotless criminal record and 15+ years of residence in San Diego, it is welcoming to have learned first-hand that our local legal system delivers a quality service in such an efficient manner.
“However, in my case, I feel that the initial identification process pointing to me as a suspect could have been significantly better.”
The rape was reported shortly before 1 a.m. Friday, and police searching the area found Sullivan on his bike nearby. The victim made a positive identification and Sullivan was arrested.
Paul Levikow, a spokesman for the District Attorney’s office, said the investigation of the case continues.
[Note: Because of the story above the photo of this suspect was removed from this site. If this is a case of mistaken identity we don't want to contribute to this individual's problems]
Original Story:
SAN DIEGO – A woman walking down an alley between Opal and Tourmaline streets was raped around 1 a.m. Friday, police said. Police detained a suspect, a Hispanic man found riding his bike a block away from the crime scene. Initially, police investigators said, he jumped off his bike and tried to hide from officers.
Police have turned this case over to their sex crimes unit.
Source: Channel10News.com POSTED: 6:50 am PDT September 21, 2007
See the KUSI News video by clicking here.
Friday, September 21, 2007 — A new sexual assault in Pacific Beach is just the latest in a number of recent crimes in that area.
P.B. is known for having a lot of young people and bars and neighbors say that combination is often dangerous. For more on the story, click on the video icon above.
See the Fox6 News report including SDPD ABLE helicopter footage guiding patrol officer to hiding suspect by clicking here.
Heat-tracking device helps police nab sexual assault suspect
By Mark Arner
UNION-TRIBUNE STAFF WRITER1:30 p.m. September 21, 2007
PACIFIC BEACH – Police used a heat-tracking device from a helicopter to find and arrest a 45-year-old San Diego man on suspicion of sexually assaulting a 21-year-old woman early Friday in an alley.
The assault occurred at about 12:55 a.m. in an alley near Tourmaline and Bayard streets, said San Diego police Lt. Carolyn Kendrick.
Timothy Michael Sullivan of Pacific Beach was booked into jail on suspicion of rape and kidnapping.
Kendrick said the victim was a college student who had been socializing with a group of female friends at a bar on Garnet Avenue. The group left to walk to their respective homes and the victim apparently walked slower than the rest of the group, Kendrick said.
As she walked alone into an alley, a man suddenly grabbed her, removed some of her clothes and sexually assaulted her. The woman told police she tried to scream, but the assailant prevented her from making any noise.
The attacker then ran away, and the victim ran to her home. She telephoned police about 10 minutes after the assault and reported the attack, Kendrick said.
A police helicopter crew spotted a lone person riding a bicycle near the assault site shortly afterward, Kendrick said. The officers used a infrared device to pinpoint a man hiding near Mission Boulevard and Loring Street.
Police arrested him at 1:13 a.m.
Kendrick said the victim identified the man as the assailant shortly before 1:30 a.m. at a curbside lineup, and he was subsequently booked into jail on suspicion of rape and kidnapping.
There have been 24 rapes reported in Pacific Beach between September 2006 and August 2007, according to a Web site managed by the Automated Regional Justice Information System. It can be viewed at www.arjis.org/
4th Generation Native
The woman was drunk after a night out on Garnet Ave. and walking home. She and her friends were so drunk they got separated. She then gets raped by someone who is lurking around alleys in PB at 1 a.m. I’m not sure how you deduce this doesn’t relate to alcohol.
Two, rape is a bigger problem in PB. Last year rapes were up 22% overall. I agree that women are being targeted but, in this case apparently she wasn’t drugged in the bars.
Three – I rent. So I personally would like to see housing prices stay LOW. I would like to buy here in PB but, find that extremely difficult. I’ve been here 17 years and call this home even though I rent.
Finally, why are you griping at me? Because I’m trying to open a discussion about the alcohol-culture in PB? I’d think you’d welcome the discussion as it has clearly caused many long-time residents of PB a lot of grief.
Thanks.
This is a Red Herring. It has nothing to do with alcohol consumption, it has everything to do with rape.
Rape is a very big problem in San Diego, and it has been for a long time. When you mix the military and nearby cultures that view women as 2nd class citizens, you get a hostile environment for females. Which involves slipping roofies into women’s drinks – causing them to pass out and become defenseless against rape.
This has been a long standing problem, it’s disgusting that you’re only addressing this because you want to salvage the market value of your property.