The public’s help is being asked by deputies to identify a man who targeted a blind woman in a sexual assault in Cupertino.
The photos of the suspect were released by the deputies on Monday.
“This was a brazen, random attack,” said deputy Russell Davis in an interview with KRON4.
The incident took place last May 5 when a blind woman was inside a Target store and the suspect started tailing her, according to deputies.
The victim went out of Target and headed to her workplace in the Stevens Creek Boulevard and North Stelling Road area.
Davis said the man still followed her and made “verbal flirtatious advances towards her.”
“The female victim politely declared and continued to walk to her workplace,” the deputy said.
The suspect still tailed the victim, deputies added.
The man then approached the blind victim anew, now in an outdoor parking space. The Sheriff’s Office said he held her without her permission and assaulted her.
“Based on the timeframe of the encounters, it appeared the suspect was following the female victim prior to the assault,” according to Davis.
People who saw the random attack confronted the man, leading to a physical conflict between the assailant and a concerned citizen, as shown in surveillance videos. After which, the assailant escaped from the area.
It has been six months since the case was investigated by the Santa Clara County Sheriff’s Office but the assailant has not yet been identified.
“Detectives have exhausted any measures for trying to identify this person. We need the public’s assistance,” the deputy told the news outlet on Monday.
Those who have details in connection to the case can reach the Santa Clara County Sheriff’s Office 408-808-4500. Tip lines are also open for anonymous reports at 408-808-4431, or at the email address SO.website@shf.sccgov.org.
