ENCINITAS – A late-afternoon walk with the dog turned horrific on June 15th. As an anonymous female resident strolled on the 800 block of Hygeia Avenue in Encinitas at approximately 4:40 PM, an unknown male silently approached her from behind.
Upon reaching her front door, the man asked to use her restroom. As she quickly opened the door while denying his request, she was pushed inside the residence – where the man began strangling her.
“Another resident inside the house heard the commotion and came to her aid,” said Sgt. George Crysler. “The resident fought with the suspect and ultimately forced the suspect out of the residence.”
911 was called while the suspect fled in a vehicle – as the Sheriff’s Dispatch was provided descriptions of the suspect and vehicle. Nearby Sheriff’s Deputies in unmarked vehicles spotted the fleeing vehicle leave the area.
A surprise suspicious twist in the action took place when the suspect pulled over to the side of the road near a jogging female. This move led Undercover Deputies to believe that the suspect’s actions were leading to another assault attempt.
An immediate intervention detained the driver. A search of the driver revealed condoms in his pocket. “The suspect was identified as 53-year-old Shane Crawford,” said Sgt. Crysler of North Coastal Sheriff’s Station – Area Investigations. “Crawford has a violent criminal history and is currently on bail for a recent DUI arrest.”
The result of this investigation saw Crawford booked into the Vista Detention Facility for a laundry list of charges: Burglary, Assault with a Deadly Weapon, Assault with the Intent to Commit a Sex Crime, Kidnapping, False Imprisonment and Commission of a Felony while released on Bail.
You are urged to provide any additional information related to this incident by calling the North Coastal Sheriff’s Station at (760) 966-3500, or the Sheriff’s Communication Center at (858) 565-5200.
