Greenway risky after dark?

<p>Santa Rosa City Councilwoman Veronica Jacobi was home nursing her injuries Monday following a weekend assault along a trail the city spent $25 million to build, the Prince Memorial Greenway.</p><p>"My neck is stiff, my shoulder is weak. So it wouldn't be smart to ride a bike right away. But I definitely will be back on a bike on the Greenway," Jacobi, 50, said Monday.</p><p>She declined to sit for an interview to discuss her ordeal, saying, "I just want to focus on getting all my parts working well." But the Saturday night attack, which left her bruised, robbed and without the bike she was riding, casts a dim light on an area popular by day but a risk when darkness falls.</p><p>"At night, it is dark and secluded," said Santa Rosa Sgt. Rich Celli, who supervises patrols of the area. The police officer bike team frequently rides the downtown path area and reports that the most prevalent crime is graffiti.</p><p>"Occasionally there is other crime, but there is no trend at the moment," Celli said.</p><p>The paved path, attractive to walkers, bikers and joggers, stretches along Santa Rosa Creek, past Railroad Square and west toward Pierson, part of a $25 million area restoration project that features art as well as habitat.</p><p>But the area also attracts transients, and it skirts lower-income areas of the city.</p><p>"I am disturbed and saddened by this event. It makes me curious as to the volume of events like this on the Greenway," said fellow council member John Sawyer.</p><p>"Given that this is the first time I've heard of anything happening, my guess is that it's rare. I'm concerned by the incident," he said.</p><p>Hector and Guadalupe Sanchez, who said they walk the path nearly daily for exercise, said the route, particularly the western portions, are plagued by minor crime issues. They said they avoid that part of the trail and drive to Spring Lake Park when they can.</p><p>"A lot of people have stopped walking here," Hector Sanchez said in Spanish. "I wish the police would be more vigilant."</p><p>The problems, his wife added, mostly stem from drinking. But, she said, she would not walk the path alone. "A lot of the men cause problems; they are drinking, and they are alone," she said.</p><p>Santa Rosa police Monday continued to investigate the case involving at least two males who stopped Jacobi as she rode near Railroad Square at about 9 p.m. Saturday.</p><p>Police reports indicate that two young males standing alongside the path near Pierson Street stopped her and asked for money.</p><p>When she refused, one knocked her from her bicycle, causing the injuries. They demanded money and her belongings, which she was carrying in saddlebags on the bike. She then handed them over, and they began to back away, Sgt. Lisa Banayat said.</p><p>Jacobi stood up and ran to her home nearby to call police, leaving her bike behind.</p><p>Officers searched the area and found some of her personal items scattered along the path. An evidence technician looked for fingerprints on the items, and the area was processed as a crime scene, Banayat said.</p><p>The robbers did keep at least one credit card and her mountain bike, which has a campaign sticker on it with her name. The stolen card was used soon after the robbery, police said.</p><p>Detectives on Monday were going to those businesses where the card was used to retrieve surveillance tapes and see if they can get images of potential suspects.</p><p>One man was arrested in connection with the case, suspected of possessing stolen property. Filiberto Carrillo, 35, of Windsor was stopped for a traffic violation Sunday by Sonoma County Sheriff's Deputy Keith Covington. Covington found Jacobi's credit card in Carrillo's possession, according to the report.</p><p>Carrillo was booked into Sonoma County Jail and was later released on bail.</p><p>On Monday, Santa Rosa businessman Tom Jackson was sitting on a bench overlooking Santa Rosa Creek during a lunchtime bike ride.</p><p>"I ride the trail a lot," said Jackson, enjoying the sunshine. "It's absolutely beautiful."</p><p>Jackson said he's been panhandled some and seen alcohol and drug use in the area. "I've run into enough people who've made me nervous, especially when you see people in a group," he said.</p><p>But he said he also sees Santa Rosa police officers patrolling on bicycles:</p><p>"They're around. It feels a lot safer when you see them out here," Jackson said.</p><p>Sean Busa also uses the trail on his lunch break from his job working for the city of Santa Rosa. Monday he was out for a brisk walk and stopped to talk about the trail.</p><p>He called the path a great feature but acknowledged he still uses caution.</p><p>"During the daytime, sometimes you see shady characters. There are lots of places for people to pop out of," Busa said. "I wouldn't advise my wife or children to come down here after dusk."</p><p>Councilwoman Marsha Vas Dupre said Jacobi had attended Fourth of July events at the Sonoma County Fairgrounds before leaving on her bike before the fireworks got under way.</p><p>Vas Dupre said she and her family frequently use the Greenway, but only during the day, noting transients can seem threatening after dark.</p><p>Banayat advised those out after dark to stick to well-lit areas and keep a cell phone within reach.</p><p>"If you're going to ride alone in the evening on a secluded bike path you should take every precaution to ensure your safety," Banayat said.</p><p>"Ms. Jacobi did the right thing. Once she was knocked over and they demanded her property, she gave it to them and got out of there."</p><p>Jacobi's bicycle is a silver Aruba mountain bike with a bike rack. On the front, it has a "Veronica Jacobi" sticker.</p><p>Banayat asked if anyone finds the bike to call detectives at 543-3590.</p>