Jonathan Nova
PALM SPRINGS — On Friday just after noon, 911 calls came into the PSPD about an assault on a woman in the bathroom at Ruth Hardy Park.
The victim was in a bathroom at the park changing her clothes for her job. A man came in on her in the stall and attacked her, apparently attempting a sexual assault.
Witnesses heard the woman’s scream, chased the man from the bathroom and followed him until, five minutes later, 35-year-old Jonathan Nova was arrested and positively identified by the woman as her attacker.
Authorities learned that Nova matched the description of a man involved in another incident that morning in the 1100 block of N. Indian Canyon.
In the earlier incident, Nova approached a woman at an office building and forced his way inside. The victim fled, called police, and later that day also identified Nova as her attacker.
Nova was charged with assault with intent to commit mayhem or rape and false imprisonment. He is not on parole or probation and is not a registered sex offender. Bail has yet to be set.
