Man Charged In Attack On Woman At Walnut Creek BART Station: DA

WALNUT CREEK, CA — A Pittsburg man has been charged by the Contra Costa District Attorney’s Office on suspicion of attacking a woman at the Walnut Creek BART station.

Richard Lee McDowell, 35, faces three felony charges — kidnapping, attempted rape and assault — in connection with the Oct. 7 attack of a 20-year-old East Bay woman, the DA's Office said Thursday in a news release.

It is alleged that McDowell and the victim were on the same BART train around midnight Oct. 7 when the train stopped at the Walnut Creek station. The victim got off the train and McDowell followed her onto the platform, according to court complaint filed against McDowell.

"No one else was on the platform when McDowell grabbed the victim and forced her into an elevator where the two struggled," the DA's Office said. "At one point, the victim was able to activate the emergency alarm in the elevator and McDowell fled while BART Police were en route."

Law enforcement put out a bulletin with McDowell's description and images from security camera footage. On Oct. 15, he was arrested by BART police at the North Concord Station.

McDowell remained in custody Thursday at the Contra Costa County jail in Martinez with his bail set at $1.15 million, records showed. His arraignment has been scheduled for Friday afternoon in Martinez.