Followup: Police say West Seattle case was ‘acquaintance rape’

| Crime | Delridge | Safety | West Seattle news

Followup to last night’s story on North Delridge neighbors mobilizing after reports of a woman being raped early Saturday in the Greg Davis Park area: We just talked with Lt. Von Levandowski of the Southwest Precinct. He says this is being investigated as a case of “acquaintance rape, which is still bad … but we don’t believe there is a predator out there.” He says the woman had gone to the area with the person who allegedly raped her; after she went to the nearby gas station/convenience store for help, she was taken to the hospital for the care and examination that is routine in reported rape cases. Lt. Levandowski says officers “processed the scene” and obtained evidence, and while no one has been arrested yet, he says they have “a lead on a suspect.”

Amy August 31, 2009 (10:16 am)

The rapist knowing the victim doesn’t make him any less a predator. The VAST majority of rapes are acquaintance rapes or date rapes, and we need to be better about teaching women how to defend themselves in a situation where they know their attacker. Rapists aren’t always the stranger who sneaks into your house or attacks from the bushes. We need to stop perpetuating that stereotype with comments like the police comment above that sound like it’s somehow a “less severe” type of rape. Rape is rape, and no means no. We’d do well, as a society, to remember that.

James August 31, 2009 (11:47 am)

For Amy…
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I think the “any less a predator” point you make is non sequitur to the story. The article was written to lower the anxiety for locals by simply stating that the cops know who the rapist is (assuming the victim reported him by name), and he’s not some perv lurking in the bushes at the park waiting for a woman or child to stumble through.
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Not to diminish your point, but it’s kind of apples/oranges to the intent of the story.

bridge to somewhere August 31, 2009 (1:31 pm)

ya, i think i agree with james, but the statement “we don’t believe there is a predator out there” actually seems to reinforce amy’s point. in fact, there clearly IS a predator out there given the police only have leads on a suspect; in this case, however, that predator has only struck an acquaintance. so you’re both correct. :-)

Karrie Kohlhaas August 31, 2009 (6:25 pm)

As a Delridge neighbor, I must admit, I was relieved to hear this was “acquaintance” rape and not a random act. (Please do not misunderstand me–I feel horrible for the woman who was attacked and have been thinking of her daily.) But, when I thought it was a random act, I did feel more concerned about safety in the park.

But Amy, I hear you and the truth is there are ALWAYS predators out there on the loose! I do think the police were trying to make the neighbors feel more at ease because Saturday night, tensions were high in Cottage Grove! We love to use the Greg Davis Park, walk in the woods, sit by the creek, and to think it was not safe anymore was a feeling of HUGE loss to many of us. It’s also a wake up call that we should be more careful and probably walk and jog in pairs.

Your point that rape is rape, is true. For the woman who was raped, beaten and robbed, it does not matter if she knew the man or if he was a stranger. It’s a terrorizing experience, period. Remember one thing: ALWAYS ALWAYS ALWAYS FIGHT! There are people who still teach that if you don’t fight, the perpetrator will be “easier on you” but that’s simply NOT been proven to be the case. ALWAYS FIGHT BACK! I have friends who wish they had been taught this before being attacked. And I know women who have not survived because they did not know this.

Nancy F, September 3, 2009 (11:35 am)

Is there any follow up to this? Any progress towards an arrest?

neighbor September 8, 2009 (2:05 pm)

I have called the police several times after hearing women screaming to stop touching me in a large group of folks at the park. Lots of young adults use the park to hang out and smoke and do drugs after dark.

Claire j September 14, 2009 (6:23 pm)

Its not uncommon for a rape predator to introduce them selves to the intended victim and chat them up to get easier access. Not sure I like this sounding like a downgrade.

Sorry, comment time is over.