Meeting Offers Solutions to End Ocean Beach Sex Crimes

Over 60 people met at the Ocean Beach Woman's Club on October 3 to discuss the recent sex crimes against women in the community. Ideas were presented on how to make more women aware of what is going on in their neighborhood.

Police claim there have been seven cases of a peeping tom and three sexually motivated attacks in the past couple months.

Many in the group echoed the outrage that was elicited at the O.B. Town Council meeting on September 26, where police were present and told by audience members that they were not doing enough to catch the perpetrators. No police were invited to this meeting.

One woman told the crowd about her neighbor becoming violent. She said she called 911 in a hysterical state, only to be told that they would not send police.

A man spoke of seeing a woman getting beaten next to the Ocean Villa Inn and calling it in to the police, who put him on hold for ten minutes before being disconnected.

Philip Gordon, owner of Vault Combat Academy on Newport Avenue, said he is offering a free women's-only self-defense seminar on Sundays in response to the recent attacks.

Tim Nolan, owner of the Tower Two Cafe, a popular O.B. restaurant, suggested starting a citizens' patrol of volunteers like they did back in the ’70s, with locals spreading the word of the attacks by going door to door, putting awareness stickers on windows, talking to people in the streets, having a phone number where they can call to get a safe ride home, handing out flyers, and having a safehouse for women to run to in case they are being pursued or think there is someone suspicious following them. This idea was approved by everyone in the crowd.

The next meeting will be held on Monday, October 8, at Tower Two at 7 p.m. Locals and concerned citizens were encouraged to come.