Assault to Commit Rape Charge in Walnut Creek

Updated 5 p.m. Wednesday, more information on location.

Authorities have filed two felony counts against a Walnut Creek man accused of an assault on a woman walking home through a secluded city park shortly after midnight Saturday.

Charged with assault to commit rape and false imprisonment by violence was Francisco Hernandez-Murrieta, also known as Javier Hernandez, age 31, of Walnut Creek, according to an alert from the Walnut Creek Police Department.

Police gave this account of the incident:

The woman was walking home through the park, adjacent to the Iron Horse Trail, on the east end of Civic Park near the railroad trestle bridge, at 12:54 a.m. Saturday. The suspect grabbed the victim from behind, clasping his hand over her mouth. He took her to the ground, and rolled her over on her back. Hernandez-Murrieta straddled and restrained the victim while groping her.

The victim bit the suspect's hand and punched him several times in the face. Hernandez-Murrieta fled on foot down the Iron Horse Trail. A WCPD officer, responding to the victim's call to 9-1-1, intercepted the suspect.

Hernandez-Murrieta is in custody in the Contra Costa County Jail. The district attorney's office reviewed the WCPD investigation and filed the two felony counts against the suspect, according to the alert.

Anyone with information on this attack or other attacks potentially involving the same suspect are asked to call Det. Greg Leonard at (925) 256-3518, or email leonard@walnutcreekpd.com.