Woman Chased by Stranger on Vineyard Road

A woman told police she was followed by a driver Monday morning around her westside Novato neighborhood and later chased on foot by the man while she was walking her two dogs.

The woman told that the man matches the description of a suspect sought by Emeryville police for alleged attempted kidnapping and a separate attempted robbery. Both incidents occurred in Emeryville and both victims were women.

Emeryville police confirmed that they will be following up with Novato police. "We'll be in contact with Novato PD to see if there is a possible link to their investigation," said Sgt. Fred Dauer of the Emeryville Police Department.

Novato police Sgt. James Tross said that they have been in contact with Emeryville police and are still investigating the incident in Novato.

Emeryville police have issued a photo and news release seeking the public's help in locating Bashar Aremu, a 30-year-old man, 6-foot tall and approximately 230 pounds, who may be working as a security guard.

The Novato woman reported that she was walking on Eucalyptus Avenue at about 9:30 a.m. when a man in his mid-to-late 20s drove by in a light-blue older model sedan without hubcaps.  The driver waved to the woman and then continued to drive to Santa Ynez Circle.

Shortly after, as she walked along Vineyard Road, the woman saw the same car pass her and drive onto Racquet Court and then turn left onto Vineyard, where the driver stopped. She said the man got out of his car and began following the woman on foot. 

The woman said that she began running and said the man chased her along Vineyard. She then turned left on Mill Road toward a friend’s house. She reported to police that she believed that the man pretended to be a jogger when a white truck approached the intersection at Vineyard and Mill.

She said while running on Mill she looked back saw the man run back in the direction of his car. She later saw the car traveling southwest on Trumbull Avenue, turn right on Mill and head toward Santa Maria Drive.  She then saw the car again headed in the opposite direction toward Wilson Avenue.

She described the man as a black male in his 20s, standing about 5-foot-8 to 6 feet with short hair and a round face. In an e-mail to Novato Patch, the woman said the man was wearing darker clothing and was possibly heavyset.

Novato police Lt. Keith Heiden said witnesses to the incident should speak to an investigator by calling at 415-897-1122.