Peninsula Man Charged With Sexual Assault In Downtown Palo Alto

PALO ALTO, CA — Palo Alto police arrested a man over the weekend in connection with a sexual assault that occurred in a downtown parking lot last week.

The suspect, identified as 58-year-old Anthony Ray Drayton of East Palo Alto, was on post-release community supervision for a felony assault on a police officer in San Mateo County.

According to a news release, the victim, a woman in her 70s, told police that Drayton, who she knew, sexually assaulted her on April 5 after she refused to have sexual intercourse with him. He also punched and kicked her, according to police. The incident took place in City Parking Lot “C” at Ramona Street adjacent to Cogswell Plaza, where the woman was sleeping.

Drayton was arrested on Saturday morning. He is charged with five felonies: assault with intent to commit rape, sexual penetration, elder abuse, false imprisonment and criminal threats.