San Pablo Man Arrested in Attack of Woman in Wildcat Canyon Regional Park

East Bay Regional Park District police arrested a San Pablo man Tuesday who is suspected of attacking a woman on a hiking trail in Richmond’s Wildcat Canyon Regional Park. Julio Rodriguez, 31, had an outstanding felony arrest warrant and was taken into county jail in Martinez Tuesday after a woman told police she was accosted a day earlier by a man who matched Rodriguez’ description in the park.

The 39-year-old woman told police that at about 5:15 p.m. Monday, a stranger grabbed her while she was walking through the park, threw her to the ground and attempted to drag her into some nearby bushes. The victim’s screams scared the suspect away and extensive air and ground searches were unable to locate him, according to park police.

The victim suffered a back injury in the attack but declined medical attention. Descriptions of the suspect matched those of Rodriguez, who was already a known suspect from a previous case of a similar nature, police said. The victim was able to positively identify Rodriguez, who was arrested at a home in San Pablo. Police will seek attempted rape, kidnapping and false imprisonment charges against him with the Contra Costa District Attorney’s Office.

Investigators are also trying to determine if Rodriguez is responsible for similar incidents in or around Wildcat Canyon Regional Park. Anyone with information or who may have seen the suspect on Monday in the park is asked to contact the Easy Bay Regional Park District police at (510) 881-1833.

—By Bay City News