Update: Atascadero man sentenced for attempted kidnapping, assault, burglary
Update posted Feb. 2, 2022:
Anderson’s 11-year sentence is the maximum provided by law for his convictions
– San Luis Obispo County District Attorney Dan Dow announced this week that Tyrone Anderson, 41, of Atascadero was sentenced to serve 11 years in state prison and ordered to register as a sex offender for 10 years once he is released. Anderson’s 11-year sentence is the maximum provided by law for his convictions.
Anderson was convicted after two jury trials with guilty verdicts on various charges and a plea of no contest to additional charges. These convictions stem from two separate incidents; one in Dec. 2017 and another in May 2018.
Regarding the Dec. 2017 incident, the jury heard evidence that shortly before midnight Anderson entered an apartment in the City of San Luis Obispo occupied by a female college student, where he bound her hands and ankles with duct tape and sexually battered her. He eventually fled. Anderson was later linked to the assault by DNA evidence he left at the scene.
Regarding the May 2018 incident, the jury heard evidence that the female survivor had just dropped her children off at school in Atascadero when Anderson collided with her vehicle from behind. The collision was believed to have been intentional. Anderson pulled the survivor into the back seat of his car and physically assaulted her. A bystander, Michael Rummel, rushed to intervene. Anderson pulled out a knife and Rummel suffered an injury to his hand in the altercation. Anderson fled the scene on foot and was quickly apprehended by Atascadero police. During Anderson’s booking, a sample of his DNA was taken, which was later matched to DNA secured at the Dec. 2017 crime scene in San Luis Obispo.
In March 2020, a San Luis Obispo County jury returned guilty verdicts on the charges related to the May 2018 incident, including attempted kidnapping, assault with a deadly weapon, and assault with force likely to cause great bodily injury. However, the jury was unable to reach a unanimous verdict on the two counts related to the Dec. 2017 incident.
In July 2021, the case was retried before a jury for the two charges related to the Dec. 2017 incident. Again, the jury was unable to reach a unanimous verdict. In Dec. 2021, the district attorney and defense counsel entered into an agreement whereby Anderson pleaded no contest to residential burglary, assault with force likely to cause great bodily injury, false imprisonment, and misdemeanor sexual battery related to the Dec. 2017 incident.
“It is because of the victim survivors’ willingness to come forward and participate, that we were able to bring this predator to justice,” said Dow. “We commend the neighbors and passersby in Atascadero who witnessed the crimes and came forward to help. Even when it requires multiple jury trials, our team will continue to pursue justice and accountability for dangerous criminals.”
The case was investigated by the Atascadero Police Department and the San Luis Obispo Police Department, with the assistance of the District Attorney’s Office Bureau of Investigation and the District Attorney’s Central Coast Cyber Forensics Laboratory. The case was prosecuted by Chief Deputy District Attorney Lisa B. Muscari who supervises the Sexual Violence, Domestic Violence, and Child Abuse prosecution units.
Original story posted May 9, 2018:
Alleged stabbing, kidnapping in Atascadero prompts school lockdown
– On Monday, at approximately 8:32 a.m, the Atascadero Police Department responded to the area of Atascadero Avenue and San Gabriel Road for a report of a vehicle collision with subjects involved in a physical confrontation. Officers arrived on the scene and learned the suspect had fled the area. Officers on scene ascertained the suspect had allegedly stabbed an individual at the collision scene and kidnapped another party. Officers immediately began providing vehicle and suspect description to neighboring agencies in an attempt to locate the suspect.
At approximately 9:36 a.m., officers located the suspect in the area of the original collision. The suspect fled on foot from officers. Due to the proximity to the Santa Rosa School, and in an overabundance of caution, the school was notified and placed in lockdown. Following a lengthy foot pursuit, officers located the suspect in the 9100 block of Coromar Ct.
The suspect, Tyrone Anderson, a 39-year-old Atascadero resident, was transported to Sierra Vista Regional Medical Center by Atascadero Police where he is being treated for minor injuries sustained during the incident. The victim of the kidnapping is being treated at a local hospital for non-life-threatening injuries. The victim with the reported stabbing wounds did not require medical treatment.
The Atascadero Police Department Investigations Unit is currently conducting follow-up investigation into the incident. Charges on Anderson are pending at this time.