Santa Cruz group holds safety rally after recent attack
Central Coast residents rallying for change more than a week after a woman was assaulted near the Santa Cruz clock tower.
Though the victim is still dealing with the emotional impacts, she’s already speaking out for changes and hoping others will join.
Supporters and advocates gathered at the Santa Cruz clock tower, more than a week after an attempted rape in the same spot.
Sarah Shinsky was walking home from work, when Daisuke Muro, a man police believe is mentally ill, came from behind and grabbed her.
Sarah described the scene in an interview with KION a day after the attack:
“He tried to pull my pants off and we were fighting, wrestling on the ground for about two to five minutes.”
In the days since that attack, she’s joined others, hoping that more can be done to stop it from happening again.
“[Hoping that] Some policies are changed and some safety actions are put forth,” Shinsky said.
Santa Cruz Police were at the event organizers called the “Take Back Santa Cruz Community Engagement Walk”. Chief Andy Mills says they’re trying to help.
“We’re working hard with the county to make sure that we have the right resources in place to deal with as many people that has mental illness as we can,” Mills said.
Though their fight for a safer Santa Cruz is a message that resonated with the community Friday night, they’re hopeful it doesn’t end.
“[We] want to make sure that we hold our city officials accountable, let’s get some transparency and find out why these issues seem to be spiking right now and try to solve our problems,” said event coordinator Ashley Scontriano.
The police chief also announced a volunteer policing program. The department is still finalizing details but hopes to have it up and running in the coming months.
