Oakdale police seek man in rape of transient in park

Oakdale police are seeking a man in the rape of a transient in William Meyer Park on Tuesday night. The man is described as a clean-shaven white male with wavy dark hair, about 6 feet tall, medium build, 30 to 40 years old. He was wearing a baggy white T-shirt and dark shorts.

Police Chief Lester Jenkins learned of the attack when he was in the park, in the 100 block of East G Street, on Wednesday morning to investigate an unrelated incident. He was flagged down by a local transient who told him the female transient, a woman in her 50s, had been raped.

Jenkins found the victim in the park. She reported that her attacker, whom she did not recognize, woke her around 11 p.m. Tuesday. A short time later, she said, the man lay down next to her and raped her after threatening harm if she made any noise. After the assault, the man fled on foot.

Police interviewed several people in the area and collected evidence, according to a press release.

The victim was examined and treated at a Modesto hospital. Other than the trauma from the assault, she was not physically injured, police said. The victim was provided with temporary housing through a local support group.

Anyone with information on the case is asked to call Detective Aaron Beatty at 209-847-2231.

This story was originally published July 2, 2015 at 8:08 AM with the headline "Oakdale police seek man in rape of transient in park."