Livermore Police: Arroyo Trail Attacks Were Hoaxes

Two reported sexual assaults on the Arroyo Trail in Livermore this week were hoaxes, Livermore police said today.

The first assault was reported on Tuesday, when a 29-year-old woman reported an assault occurring around 6 p.m. on the trail near Arroyo Road. The woman, who was reportedly treated for injuries after the incident, recanted her story late Thursday after investigators reviewed the evidence they had with her, police said today.

Then this morning, a 23-year-old woman recanted her story of a sexual assault that took place Thursday at about 7:50 p.m. Again, the victim recanted her story after police reviewed the evidence they had with her.

Police would not disclose what evidence they obtained in the cases.

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Livermore police said officers patrol the Arroyo Trail and spend time contacting suspicious people, arranging for the removal of excessive vegetation and graffiti and helping residents who live adjacent to the trail improve or maintain their quality of life.

Livermore police Lt. John Hurd said there have been no sexual assaults along Arroyo Trail in recent history, but there have been three reported incidents of sexual batteries on or near the trail in the last three years.

Sexual battery refers to the grabbing of a victim whereas sexual assault refers to crimes such as rape, Hurd said.

--Bay City News

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