I hope to have an update on this story soon.

From the Times Dispatch:

A woman used pepper spray late last night to fend off an attacker in Richmond’s Oregon Hill area.

Richmond police Capt. Dave Martin said the 18-year-old victim “was a little scraped up but she refused medical treatment.”

The woman told police the attack occurred at 11:50 p.m. in the 300 block of South Cherry Street, just south of Virginia Commonwealth University’s Monroe Park campus, when an older male approached her and tried to forcibly take her backpack.

This comes right after a neighborhood association meeting last night where residents were told by police that the biggest crime in the area was theft from vehicles and crime was down in Oregon Hill 75%.

This past Thursday night the William Byrd Community House and Grace Arents Community Garden were hit by vandals who put up obscene graffiti. One tag, on the Community Garden sign said “This Means War…”.

Mr. Bolling, the Executive Director of the WBCH, was interviewed by WRIC, Channel 8 News. I also heard that the park area under the Lee Bridge has also experienced more graffiti.

Combined with recent muggings, a weekend shooting incident in Monroe Park has caused more concern about local safety.

Please inform your community of the crimes listed below. They are still under investigation and I will update you with further information as I receive it. Please ask anyone with any information on these crimes or any others to call the Police (nonemergency, 804 646 5100).

At approximately 4:00 am this morning a female reported that a black male entered her home in the 300 block of S. Laurel. Victim states that she was taken outside and raped in the alley. There was no weapon involved. Case is still under investigation and details are unclear at this time. I will update you as soon as I get any further information.

At approximately 8:30 last night 2 females reported that they were walking in the 100 block of S. Cherry when they were approached by 2 black females. One of the suspects displayed a black revolver and demanded money and cell phones. Suspects got $47 and a cell phone. No one was injured. No further details at this time.

Thanks in advance for your help.

Lt. Lisa Drew

Oregon Hill
Oregon Hill once again leads the pack with only 2 crimes in December – one
burglary and one larceny. The burglary occurred at 225 S. Pine St. Unknown
suspect(s) entered the home between 9AM and 3PM on December 27th and stole
electronics. The larceny was of license plates at 611 S. Cherry Street by an
unknown suspect. Please call RPD if you have information on these crimes or any
others.

For the year – you had a 40% decrease in violent crime and a 29% decrease in
property crime. Also – Detective Levin White is following up on some great leads
on violent crime that occurred earlier in the year in your area. Most of the crimes
should be cleared by arrest soon but I can’t give you any details of the investigation
at this time. Hopefully next month I will be able to fill you in.

Sector413/Newsletter link here.

I note that this did not occur in the Oregon Hill neighborhood, but close by in downtown. I am not trying to feed into any anti-downtown paranoia (these crimes happen everywhere), but I want people to be careful, be aware, and help catch this guy if they can.
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