LAKEPORT, Calif. – The Lakeport Police Department is seeking information about a male subject who allegedly assaulted a woman in the city's downtown on Thursday evening.
Chief Brad Rasmussen said officers were dispatched to Museum Park at 7 p.m. Thursday to investigate the report of an assault and battery.
The officers contacted the 22-year-old female victim from Clearlake and discovered she was bleeding, with knife cuts across the palms of her hands, Rasmussen said. Firefighters from the Lakeport Fire District responded to treat the victim.
Rasmussen said the woman told police that at approximately 6:40 p.m. she was walking from a Lakeport residence to the public bus stop at Third and N. Main streets, along with her two young sons, ages 1 and 4.
While walking east on Fifth Street, between N. Forbes and N. Main streets, Rasmussen said the woman passed by two male subjects who were smoking in a dark area behind a business.
The woman stated that after she passed by the subjects, she noticed that one of them began following her and then grabbed her by the back of the hair, Rasmussen said.
She pulled an approximately 4-inch knife from her purse in order to defend herself. However, Rasmussen said she told police that the male suspect grabbed her wrist and turned the knife toward her.
A struggle ensued and both of the woman's palms were cut as she tried to maintain control of the knife and prevent herself from being stabbed. Rasmussen said the woman was able to maintain control of the knife and the suspect fled the scene in a westbound direction on Fifth Street.
Rasmussen said the knife was recovered by Lakeport Police.
Lakeport Police officers were unable to locate a suspect in the area but did find the location where the woman said the incident took place. Rasmussen said a detective responded and recovered possible items of evidence.
The Lake County District Attorney’s Office Victim Witness Division and Criminal Investigations Division also responded to assist in this investigation, Rasmussen said.
Rasmussen said Lakeport Police Officer Joe Eastham responded, met with the woman and, based on information she provided, completed a composite sketch of the suspect, which can be seen above.
Additionally, Rasmussen said the woman described the male subject who attacked her as being approximately 6 feet tall and slender, with dirty blond curly and bushy/wavy hair, wearing a dark red beanie cap, a dark-colored sweatshirt or jacket, and red and black gloves.
The second male subject is described as being slightly taller than the first, with dark hair and wearing dark clothing, Rasmussen said.
Rasmussen said police are seeking the public's assistance in the case and asking that anyone who may have information contact them as soon as possible.
In particular, they wish to speak to anyone who may have been in the general area of the incident and saw any subjects in the area, Rasmussen said.
Community members can reach the Lakeport Police Department at 707-263-5491, or email Rasmussen at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or Det. Robert Jordan at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. .