Last Thursday, January 26th, there was reported an attack/rape on Hemingway about 100 yards north of the fire station. Last night at the West Ranch Town Council meeting Sheriffs Deputies briefed the council members in an executive session prior to the 6:30 meeting. It appears that the local papers have gotten the story wrong again.
The Sheriffs department is involved in an extensive investigation and indicated that this case appears to have many unanswered questions. They don’t believe that there is an attacker at large and stressed that this was an isolated incident and that the community is safe. However, the Sheriff Deputies did urge residents to use common sense when they are out walking, running or biking.
Further, the deputies pointed out that since January 1st 2006 crime in the West Ranch area has actually dropped. Conversely, crime has gone up in the rest of the Santa Clarita Valley. The top crimes in the valley are vandalism, auto break-ins/theft, and burglaries. Their advise is not leave valuables in your vehicles and to keep your garage doors closed.