POLICE DEPARTMENT
Pursuant to CA Gov’t Code Sect 6254 (F)
Community Action & Information Unit
Liz Wylie, Public Information Officer
1000 Villa Street, Mountain View, CA 94041
Ph. (650) 903-6357          Fax (650) 963-3121


Press Release

12/7/2009

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
12/7/2009
Press Release #09-9005		 Contact : Liz Wylie
PIO
650-996-2771
elizabeth.wylie@mountainview.gov
Attempted Sexual Assault Suspect Arrested and Charged with Multiple Crimes
On Dec. 6, 2009, at approximately 4:00 p.m., John Detches (32, a transient based in San Jose) was arrested for three counts of assault with intent to commit rape and one count of kidnapping in connection with a case from Nov. 29, 2009, and two other cases.

On Nov. 29, a woman was attacked while jogging on the Stevens Creek Trail.  The suspect picked up the victim and attempted to carry her into the bushes alongside the trail.  She successfully fought him off and he fled on his bicycle.  Repsonding officers were unable to locate the suspect at that time. 

The investigation revealed a suspicious circumstance that had occurred on the trail on Nov. 12, 2009, and was reported at that time.  A 24 year-old female had been jogging on the trail when she was approached by a male who grabbed her shoulders.  The woman pulled away and the male fled on his bicycle.  Officers had been unable to locate the subject and it was classified as a suspicious circumstance.  In reviewing that incident, it was determined the description of the man and his clothing matched the description of the suspect in the case from Nov. 29th.  After detectives re-interviewed the victim, it was determined she had actually elbowed the suspect in the stomach, which prompted him to flee.    

Additionally, after seeing media reports regarding the attack, a woman in her 20’s contacted the MVPD to report that a similar incident had happened to her on Nov. 25th and that she had reported it to Sunnyvale Department of Public Safety.  After reviewing the case and re-interviewing the victim, it was determined the case actually occurred in Mountain View on the trail, not in Sunnyvale as originally believed.  In that case, the female was approached by a man matching the description of the suspect and he grabbed one of her arms.  She yelled at the suspect and pulled away.  He fled on his bike and was not located by responding officers.  The suspect’s description and clothing matched both the other cases.   

After comparing the details of each incident, detectives believed one suspect was responsible for all three cases. 

On Dec. 6, 2009, two MVPD Sergeants were patrolling the trail when they located a man who matched the descriptions given by all three victims.  In addition to matching the description, he was wearing clothing that also matched what was described by all three women.  They contacted the man, John Detches, who had a misdemeanor warrant out for his arrest from another jurisdiction and was on parole for burglary.  The victim from Nov. 29th positively identified Detches as the suspect who attacked her.  Other evidence emerged linking Detches to all three cases and leading detectives to conclude that the cases from Nov. 12th and 25th were not suspicious circumstances, but rather attempted sexual assaults. 

Detches was arrested for three counts of assault with intent to commit rape and one count of kidnapping, stemming from when he carried one victim across the trail and attempted to take her into the bushes.  He was booked into San Jose Main Jail and was initially given no bail.

Based on the information gathered during the investigation, it is believed there may be other victims who have not reported their cases to their local police department.  Women who believe they had suspicious contact with Detches anywhere on pedestrian/bike trails, whether-or-not they believe a crime actually occurred, should report that incident to their local police department.

Photo of John Detches

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