One year ago, Congress defunded public media. Now that we're 100% community funded, please become a sustaining member or increase your existing membership today.
This is an archival story that predates current editorial management.
This archival content was written, edited, and published prior to LAist's acquisition by its current owner, Southern California Public Radio ("SCPR"). Content, such as language choice and subject matter, in archival articles therefore may not align with SCPR's current editorial standards. To learn more about those standards and why we make this distinction, please click here.
Suspect Arrested in Point Dume Assault
A crime alert posted at the park's entrance | Photo by Zach Behrens/LAist
A suspect has been arrested in the attempted rape of a jogger at Point Dume Natural Preserve, authorities announced today. DNA evidence led to Christian Marcus Verdin, 31, of San Bernardino.
On March 12th, a female was standing at the edge of a cliff after a jog when Verdin allegedly grabbed her from behind. They struggled for a few minutes before she escaped by jumping down a cliff (see a photo here).
“She fought off her attacker by literally jumping over the cliff and sliding down 200 feet to the beach,” Steve Whitmore, L.A. County Sheriff's Dept. Spokesman, told the LA Times.
Verdin also allegedly stole the victim's vehicle. She was treated for cuts and bruises and released.
One year ago, Congress voted to defund public media, eliminating a critical $1.7 million from our budget every year going forward. But they couldn’t silence us, and we’re not going anywhere. LAist is now 100% community funded and that means we’re taking our future into our own hands and turning to you to keep local reporting strong.
You come to LAist because you want independent reporting and trustworthy local information. Our nonprofit newsroom doesn’t answer to shareholders looking to turn a profit. Instead, we answer to you and our communities. We are free to follow facts wherever they lead and to hold power to account without fear or favor. Our only loyalty is to our readers and listeners and our mission: to inform, engage, and strengthen Southern California’s communities.
If this story helped you, please become a monthly member today to help sustain this mission. It just takes 1 minute to donate below.
You come to LAist because you want independent reporting and trustworthy local information. Our nonprofit newsroom doesn’t answer to shareholders looking to turn a profit. Instead, we answer to you and our communities. We are free to follow facts wherever they lead and to hold power to account without fear or favor. Our only loyalty is to our readers and listeners and our mission: to inform, engage, and strengthen Southern California’s communities.
If this story helped you, please become a monthly member today to help sustain this mission. It just takes 1 minute to donate below.
Senior Vice President News, Editor in Chief
