It turns out good old fashioned police work helped Mountain View investigators nab a man they say attacked at least three women on a popular hiking trail in recent weeks.
Two officers, armed with a description of the attacker, were patrolling the Stevens Creek Trail Sunday and came upon a man who caught their attention.
Police say he fit the profile to a "t" including the clothes he was wearing. After questioning him, they determined he had an outstanding warrant and that he was on parole. Later in the day, one of the victims was able to identify him as her attacker.
The suspect, John Detches, now sits in the main jail in San Jose. He faces three counts of assault with intent to commit rape.
People who use the Stevens Creek Trail in Mountain View, Calif. were warned last week to use extra caution following a brazen attack in broad daylight on Nov. 29.
A woman said a man grabbed her while she was on an afternoon jog. She said she fought back, elbowing the man in the stomach, which caused him to run away.
When that attack become public, two other women came forward to report similar crimes.
Police think there could still be more victims out there and are encouraging anyone who had any suspicious contact on the trail to call Mountain View police.
This is second crime cracked by cops on patrol in recent days here in the Bay Area. Last week, police in San Francisco caught a suspected serial stabber by walking and riding the Muni bus line where women and children had been attacked in recent weeks in the City.
Lori Preuitt likes it when cops crack cases using Police 101.
