Good News!
Suspect arrested in American River Parkway sex assault
By David Richie - Bee Staff Writer
Published 4:26 pm PST Wednesday, December 20, 2006
Sacramento County sheriff's sexual assault investigators say they finally have tracked down the man who attacked a 63-year-old woman along the American River Parkway in August 2005.
DNA evidence was used to link Bradley Michael Gray, 26, to the crime, investigators said. He was arrested about 10:20 a.m. Tuesday.
The assault allegedly occurred about 8 a.m. Aug. 11, 2005 as the woman was jogging along the bike trail near the Illinois Avenue entrance to the Sailor Bar recreation area. The woman told police that her attacker ran up behind her, knocked her down and attempted to sexually assault her before she fought him off and escaped.
Gray was arrested on one count of suspicion of assault with intent to commit rape and one count of suspicion of false imprisonment.
The same area of Sailor Bar was the scene of a major incident in August when a county parks ranger shot a car burglary suspect who allegedly attacked the ranger during a traffic stop. Despite his wound, the man managed to drive up the hill and crash into several cars at the intersection of Illinois Avenue and Winding Way. He then allegedly stole another car but crashed it into a ditch about a block away.
Since then local community activists have praised county officials for implementing numerous safety measures in the Sailor Bar access to the American River.
