Solana Beach woman fights off knife attack

By Marlena Chavira-Medford

Staff Writer

Around midnight Wednesday, Oct. 20, a Solana Beach woman fought off a man who grabbed her from behind and put a knife to her throat in an elevator at Ocean Crest Apartments, 877 Stevens Avenue.

According to a news release from the sheriff’s office, the man told the woman he would kill her if she made any noise. She began screaming and fighting back, allowing her to escape with minor injuries.

The suspect is described as a light-skinned Hispanic male, 16 to 19 years old, 5’8” to 5’10” tall, normal build, and wearing dark clothing.

Detectives from the Encinitas Sheriff’s Station are overseeing an ongoing investigation.

In response to the attack, managers at Ocean Crest Apartments, which is owned by Equity Residential, organized a crime watch meeting Oct. 22. During that meeting, some neighbors said they were concerned about people loitering in the complex, and expressed concerns that this attack happened because of gang activity. Sheriff deputy Robert Brunk, who addressed the residents during that meeting, said though he was aware of gang activity in the Eden Gardens area, police had no reason at this point to think the two are related.

In the days leading up to the attack, there were reports that teenaged boys were going door-to-door in the complex trying to sell candy. Some said it was for a church, some said it was for school. However, door-to-door solicitations are illegal without a permit from the city, and they are never allowed on the property. Again, Brunk said police had no reason to think the two are related, but that it was worth noting. Property management has already contracted a security patrol, and is considering adding camera surveillance or building a gate around the property.

Anyone with information about this crime should call the sheriff’s department at (760) 966-3500 or (858) 565-6327.