An 18-year-old Rossmoor resident was arrested on Thursday in connection with the stabbing attack of a 28-year-old female jogger in Rossmoor on Tuesday.
James Rivas was taken into custody at his home just a few blocks from the 3200 block of Davenport Road, where the attack took place. The Sheriff’s Department said that up to 20 deputies and detectives have logged time on the investigation and that they are confident they have the right suspect.
Orange County Sheriff’s Department spokesman Jim Amormino reported that the attack took place at about 9:11 p.m. in the 3200 block of Bostonian Drive. The suspect grabbed the 28-year-old woman from behind. The woman reported to Sheriffs that the man did not attempt to rob or sexually assault her, but simply began stabbing at her with a knife.
The woman suffered cuts on her hands, arms and face. The attacker fled when a witness heard the woman scream and yelled at the suspect.
The suspect was described at the time as being in his 20s, possibly Latino, and between 5 feet 7 to 5 feet 9 inches tall. He was wearing dark clothing and a baseball cap. He was last seen fleeing on a BMX bicycle. Sheriff’s called for a helicopter to help with the search, but did not locate the suspect.
The woman was jogging north on Bostonian Drive, near Rossmoor Elementary School, when the suspect attacked her from behind. The suspect tried to stab her, but the victim was able to knock the knife from his hand and escape, Amormino said. However, the suspect caught up to the woman and continued the attack until the witness scared the suspect off.
The suspect then fled north on Bostonian, on a BMX-style, or possibly mountain bike, according to Amormino. Amormino said that the victim reported that the suspect never said anything to her.
“He appeared to be very angry, but never said anything,” Amormino said. “The motive is unknown at this time.”
A nearby resident, Kim Rubien, did come forward to tell police that she had an incident about five months ago where a man who matched the stabbing suspect’s description was in her garage looking for something to steal. When she caught the suspect he fled on a BMX-style bike, she said. It’s unknown if it was the same man, but the stabbing brought concern to new heights for Rubien.
“That’s very scary to me, it’s not something that we deal with [in Rossmoor],” Rubien said.
The victim was treated and released from the hospital.
Anyone with information on the attack is asked to contact the Sheriff’s Department at 714-628-7170. Tips can also be submitted at 855-TIP-OCCS, 855-847-6227, or on line at occrimestoppers.org.
