Woman Kidnapped, Raped Near Lake Merritt

Bay Ciy News -- A $5,000 reward is being offered for information leading to the arrest and conviction of a man who kidnapped and sexually assaulted a woman near Lake Merritt about 3 am Sunday, Oakland police said.

Police said the 34-year-old victim was walking on the sidewalk near Lakeshore Avenue and Boden Way at about 3 a.m. Sunday, leaving a friend's house, when the suspect drove up and told her to get into his car.

The woman continued to walk, but the driver, whom she did not know, stopped his car, got out and approached her on foot, according to police.

He then grabbed her and forced her to get inside, and drove to an undisclosed area in Oakland where he sexually assaulted the woman in his car, police said.

Afterward, the suspect pushed the woman out of the car and drove off. Police said the suspect was "physically violent" during the incident.

The suspect's vehicle was described as a dark-colored, four-door sedan.

Anyone with information is asked to call the Oakland Police Department's Major Crimes Section at (510) 238-3326.

(Editor's note: an earlier version of this story erroneously reported that the attack had occurred at 3 am Monday. Patch regrets the error and thanks the reader who called attention to the mistake.)

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