Rape Triggers Warning Police Urge Shadle-Area Residents To Be Vigilant

In the wake of last week’s brutal rape in northwest Spokane, police are making a public plea for information about suspicious activity in the Shadle Park neighborhood.

“People need to report as much as possible,” Police Capt. Steve Braun said.

He encourages residents to call officers about everything from unscrewed light bulbs to prowlers.

The department’s new concern stems from reports of security lights being unscrewed in the 5300 block of North Maple.

Similar lights also had been unscrewed behind the North Cannon home where the attack occurred on Sunday.

The concern also is fueled by the report of pornographic material being left in a woman’s shopping cart at a Five Mile grocery store.

The woman provided officers with a description of a man that matched that of the rapist, Braun said.

“It makes us kind of cautious,” he said.

“There’s always a fear that there may be more attacks.”

The brutality of the rape also is alarming, he said.

“Pre-planning went into this,” Braun said about the attack. “It was a very violent rape.”

A woman in her 30s was attacked about 8 p.m. Sunday while walking through the back door of her home in the 4700 block of North Cannon. The unknown assailant hit her, tied her hands, covered her face, raped and beat her.

Neighbors in the Shadle Park area said that the attack has startled them.

Police officers have asked residents to remain vigilant about their personal safety, said Louis Allen, a COPS Northwest volunteer.

In the meantime, officers have released a new description of the rapist.

He spoke Spanish and English and is described as possibly Hispanic, 5 feet 10 inches tall, 200 pounds with dark hair and dark eyes.

Residents noticing suspicious strangers as well as anything around the outside of their home that is out of place should call Crime Check at 456-2233.

Staff writer Kristen Kromer contributed to this report.