Riverside Woman Raped by 3 Men. Cops Looking for Leads.

[Johnny]

Is it just me or does it seem a little strange that the artist signed his sketches of rapists like it was his finest work and to be placed in an art exhibit? I Googled criminal sketches and I'm not seeing many out there with a signature.... just thought it was weird.

[RiversideRat]

On Monday, Oct. 12, I was walking on Herschel St. between Copeland and Osceola around 6:30 in the evening to feed the animals at my neighbor's house while they were away. They live five houses down from me. As I neared their house, two young women were walking towards me, from the 5 Points area. They stopped me and said they had something to tell me. A cop had just stopped them and told them to be careful because there had been a rape the night before, which would have been Sunday, on the next street over at about the same time of evening. Three men had chased her down on her bike.

I asked my husband if he'd heard anything about it as he watches the local news more than I do. He said he'd heard nothing. I checked online at the TU and a couple of local news station but found nothing. I continued to check but didn't hear anything until Wed. on 47 News.

Well, the date and time were off but turns out most of what I had heard from the young women was in line. So at least some info was put out in the neighborhood.

I've lived here for over 40 years and it does seem strange that no one saw or heard anything. Every time I used to walk my dog, I'd pass other people walking in that area at that time of night. Probably the fact that there are mainly businesses there is what gave them cover. Luck just seemed to be on their side. I seriously doubt if anyone had heard or seen anything that they would have failed to report it as this area is full of responsible people.

It always seems crime in Riverside is harped on for some reason. I think a lot of outsiders are jealous. From what I conclude, most crime that happens here is from people that live outside of our neighborhood.

[stephendare]

great points!

I think every neighborhood is sensitive about crime reporting when it comes to their own area.

Thanks for joining us!

I definitely agree with your point on the majority of the crime in the neighborhood being committed by people from outside of the district.  At least as far as the blue collar crimes.  The white collar variety are generally too tasteful to get caught at it

[Dog Walker]

The white collar crimes are committed downtown and in the suburban office parks!  

[JaxGardenGal]

Maybe I was misinformed yesterday but while I was out with friends one of them told me another woman was raped Friday night. I'm not sure if she said it was in Springfield or Riverside. Maybe her informant was referring to last week's rape? Has anyone heard about this? There isn't anything on the news stations or local media blogs about it. (Not surprised...)

[lindab]

There was another rape several miles west from Five Points on the 14th. The crime was unrelated to the one in Riverside and the suspect is already identified.

[Springfield Girl]

Nothing happened in Springfield.

[stephendare]

The rapists still have not been caught.

Joey Marchy of Urbanjacksonville.info, and Jonathan Bennett of Jacksonville.com discuss the behind the scenes processes of the reporting of this story on Urbanjacksonville Weekly.  Not a bad discussion really, and the whole podcast is worth listening to.

http://www.urbanjacksonville.info/2009/10/21/urban-jacksonville-weekly-37-steel-cut-oats-edition/

[stephendare]

Two males are being detained by police downtown at Chamblins who almost exactly match the descriptions of the police sketches of the rapists.

They were seen earlier by a young female reader of metrojacksonville.  She was stared at by the two of them as they passed.  Having seen the artists sketches, she was frightened because of their similarity.  She called the cops, who cruised around trying to find them.

As it turns out they were already looking for the two guys since they had been reported looking into cars around downtown.

To make things more suspicious, the two men returned to chamblins, but they had switched shirts.

The police arrived and picked them up, and sure enough they fit the police description for the rapists.

They are being detained at the moment, but no word as to whether they are being arrested or charged with the crime.

[stephendare]

police sketches of the rapists. via http://crimesceneriverside.blogspot.com/2009/10/police-sketches-of-riverside-rapists.html

[mtraininjax]

Stephen - Thank you for the updates. I and my fellow citizens really appreciate it. Just watched the News4Jax and never saw anything on this, but with 30 minutes, there is weather, sports, and not enough time, I guess.

[puff_momma]

Any more news on the Chamblin sighting?

[happical]

what is the chamblin sighting?

[stephendare]

there is no more news.
the cops think they have leads, but nothing substantial yet.

The TU ran an update this morning on rapists who have been caught, including an especially brutal one involving a senior citizen in riverside, but repeated that these were not the same criminals.

[mtraininjax]

a senior citizen in riverside

That criminal has to be one of the dumbest I have seen in a long while, he extorts his victim for $7, then she writes him a check for $50, which he cashes and the JSO nab him by following the cashing of the check. That paper trail will catch you every time.