Police arrested a homeless man on suspicion of robbery and attempted rape of a female UC Berkeley student in North Berkeley on Monday.
According to Berkeley Police Department spokesperson Officer Jennifer Coats, the victim was walking in the residential area of Arch Street and Virginia Street at approximately 11:30 a.m. Monday when the assailant “pushed her off a public walkway into a secluded grassy area” and allegedly attempted to sexually assault her, as first reported by Berkeleyside. He also stole the victim’s cell phone and identification before fleeing the scene, according to Coats.
Police officers located the suspect shortly afterward on Hearst Avenue, in the vicinity of Walnut Street, where he was then detained and arrested and the victim’s cell phone retrieved, Coats said in an email.
The suspect was identified as Wilfred Allen, a 51-year-old male, shortly after the arrest. He was arrested on suspicion of robbery, kidnapping, attempted sexual assault and probation violation and was originally booked at Berkeley City Jail.
Allen’s review for his hearing was held Thursday at 9 a.m. at the Wiley W. Manuel Courthouse in Oakland.
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