ISLA VISTA - UCSB Police and the Santa Barbara County Sheriff's Department are looking for a male suspect in connection with an attack against a young woman Saturday night in Isla Vista.
It's the fourth such assault against young women in the college town since the start of classes last month.
The Sheriff's Department says a woman says a man grabbed her and tried to pull her into the bushes along the 6500 block of Cervantes Road in Isla Vista.
The the alleged victim was able to get away and report the attack after 8:00pm Saturday night.
"So she fought him off? That's cool!", said one UCSB female we spoke with.
"I think its so crazy because I have to park two or three blocks away and I have to walk here at night by myself after night classes like tonight for example, its really weird", added another Santa Barbara City College student we spoke with who lives in an apartment building along the 6500 block of Cervantes Road.
The suspect in Saturday night's assault is described as a white male about 20 years old, standing 6'5" with a buzz-style haircut and was wearing a black hooded sweatshirt and dark pants.
Investigators are looking to see if there is any link to three other sexual assaults against female students in Isla Vista in the past month.
Students and others we spoke with who live on Cervantes Road says they always take precautions when they go out, regardless of the time of day.
"It's a college town, I usually feel pretty safe because everyone here is my age, its really crowded, I don't really feel in danger", says one Isla Vista resident, "people will see something, it seems likes there's always someone around."
Three other Cervantes Road residents we spoke echoed a similar sentiment.
"I don't want to have to worry about it", said one of the three young women, "its anywhere you go, I live in the safest town and stuff like that still happens", replied the two others.
"Its still definitely a casual, kick-back place", said another resident, "unfortunately I think people jumping out of bushes happens everywhere too, so we just have to keep our eyes out."
UCSB Police and the Santa Barbara County Sheriff's Department routinely patrol Isla Vista 24 hours a day, both agencies urge everyone to report any suspicious activity whenever they see it by calling 911.
