OJAI VALLEY : Rape Prevention Is Town Hall Topic

Sheriff’s detectives will meet tonight with Ojai Valley residents to discuss their investigation into a series of rapes and attempted rapes of women who live alone.

The town hall meeting begins at 7 p.m. in the auditorium of the Ojai Valley Unified School District offices at 414 E. Ojai Ave.

Because of similarities in the attacks and descriptions given by the victims, sheriff’s officials believe they are dealing with a serial rapist. No arrests have been made, but dozens of potential suspects have been interviewed.

Sgt. John Fitzgerald, the lead investigator, will present an overview of the case and answer questions from the public. Residents will also be given advice on how to help prevent rapes.

Vince France, a retired sheriff’s commander and former Ojai police chief, said he organized the meeting because of the impact the rapes have had on the small town. No rapes were reported in Ojai last year.

“This is a serial situation where we’ve got a guy we know has assaulted at least four women. It’s just a whole different ball game than what we’re used to in this community,” he said.

France also said the meeting should help set straight some of the rumors he has heard about the assaults.

The most recent attacks in the Ojai area occurred Sept. 2 when a 64-year-old woman was assaulted by a masked man about 6 a.m. That attack was followed by an attack on a 54-year-old woman in her home about four hours later.

The other two attacks occurred about 3 a.m. March 13 in Meiners Oaks and about 1:30 a.m. April 16 in Ojai.

Sheriff’s officials have distributed a flyer describing the suspect as a red-haired man in his mid-20s who wears a nylon-stocking mask and smells of cigarettes.