A recent incident of attempted sexual assault at Point Dume has Malibu residents and Pepperdine students questioning their own safety.
A man attempted to sexually assault a female runner March 12 around noon at Point Dume Preserve State Park. After struggling with him she broke free and jumped an unknown distance sliding down a cliff to escape from him.
Although she was able to get away from the suspect he took off in her white 2004 Toyota Land Cruiser with California license plate number 6CHF554. She was treated at a local hospital for abrasions and bruises primarily from her fall down the cliff.
The suspect is still on the loose and the victim described him as either a white or Hispanic male 35 to 40 years of age 5 feet 10 inches tall 200 pounds with a stocky build light eyes and no front teeth. He was reportedly wearing blue jeans and a black leather jacket and was barefoot.
Anyone with more information should contact Detective Tom Lewis at the Lost Hills Sheriff Station at 818-878-1808.
The day following the Point Dume assault a Pepperdine student’s car was broken into by a man whom police thought may have carried out the prior attack.
Sophomore Jordan DeShazer was walking to her car outside her Malibu residence located near Point Dume and found a man sitting in the driver’s seat of her car. Upon seeing DeShazer the man began returning belongings that he had intended to steal and claimed that he broke into her car to keep warm. DeShazer described him as being unusually well-dressed for a supposedly homeless person.
DeShazer did not call the police promptly but simply backed away from the vehicle and allowed the man to walk away. “He said ‘If you don’t call the cops I won’t hurt you’ she recalled. Later, DeShazer called the police and reported the incident.
It’s definitely changed my perspective a ton DeShazer said on how the incident has affected her perceived safety in Malibu and on Pepperdine’s campus. I don’t jog around my neighborhood and I definitely don’t run at night. The only place I will jog is on campus but I definitely wouldn’t jog on campus at night either.
“During the day I feel safe and I feel safe getting in my car as long as it’s in a lit area she continued. But if I’m walking down dorm row at night I feel nervous.”
Despite the recent crime the Pepperdine Department of Public Safety assures students that this instance has not created a significant risk increase.
“We haven’t been notified of a large increase in crime or warned by the sheriff or the county of a large increase Public Safety Deputy Director Steve Moore said.
Even if there were a significant increase in crime, Public Safety is confident that Pepperdine would remain safe.
Once you get on campus you’re in a relatively safe environment which is why we don’t have to change much for instance after this Point Dume incident Moore said. We’re pretty much safer than most cities up here. Most cities don’t have the benefit of having only two ways in and two ways out that are monitored.”
A student who wished to remain anonymous commented that while she sometimes feels as though it would be too easy for unwanted visitors to enter campus she generally feels as though she is safe on Pepperdine’s campus.
“One time they asked to see my ID [at the gate] she said— an act intended to verify that she was in fact a student.
Although Moore assures that Public Safety is constantly working to improve safety on campus and that it has not drastically altered its protocol, he mentioned a few changes.
We told the Public Safety officers to be on watch for anybody suspicious who comes on campus Moore said.We have a policy of being very careful of anybody that we don’t recognize.”
The Public Safety officers also write up incident reports in addition to their patrolling 24 hours a day.
Although Public Safety does its best to keep students safe Moore emphasized the importance of students taking personal responsibility.
“We will do what we can and students should do what they can he said. Moore suggested students travel in groups of at least two after dark. Moore assured, however, that this advice is purely precautionary.
That’s not because we think we have a wild campus Moore said. It’s kind of like buckling your seat belt. You might drive 20 years without an accident but it’s still smart to wear your seatbelt.”
Public Safety also advises students to contact them if anything on campus concerns them or presents a safety issue.
“If you see anything that bothers you like somebody in the library who looks like they don’t belong let us know and we’ll go down and talk to them Moore said.
In addition to these tips, Public Safety encourages students to take advantage of their safety resources. For example, Public Safety will escort students to, from and around campus.
Although Pepperdine’s campus is safer thanks to these precautions, students need to take precautions to stay safe off campus.
Stay in lit places don’t walk around in the middle of the night if you’ve been drinking and don’t try to get back to your car alone Moore said. It’s more important out there to travel in groups of two or more and be aware of anybody around you.”
