Woman, 22, Reports Kidnap and Rape

A 22-year-old woman told police she was knocked unconscious while walking down a west Ventura street in daylight and kidnapped by an assailant who drove her to Lake Casitas and raped her, authorities said Friday.

The woman said her attacker then drove her back to west Ventura within walking distance of her home Thursday afternoon where she called police, Lt. Brad Talbot said.

“It’s unusual to have someone be physically assaulted and dragged into a vehicle on a relatively busy street,” he said. “We don’t have any series of assaults with anybody fitting this description or modus operandi that we’re aware of.”

Police have no suspect in custody, but did find a rusty brown pickup truck that matched the description of the vehicle the woman said her assailant was driving.

The woman told police she was walking down the 500 or 600 block of Ventura Avenue about 2:30 p.m. Thursday to use a pay phone, when she was struck in the back of the head with an unknown object.

The woman said she regained consciousness to find herself being pulled into bushes in the parking lot above the Lake Casitas Dam in the Ojai Valley.

Police were told that no weapon was used but that her attacker was forceful and threatening.

“She was fearful she would be injured further if she didn’t comply with his demands,” Talbot said. “He pulled off her clothing and pushed her down roughly.”

The man then drove her back to Ventura and the woman called police about 5 p.m. after talking with friends about the incident.

The woman described her attacker as a 25- to 30-year-old Latino, about 5 foot 6, with a chunky build, wavy dark hair and dark olive complexion. He wore a black baseball cap, white T-shirt with the sleeves cut off, dark navy blue work pants and black and white tennis shoes, police said.