The El Cerrito Police responded to a sexual assault during the early morning hours of Sunday, May 18, 2025. The assault occurred on the Ohlone Greenway (AKA: BART Path) between Hill Street and Blake Street.
El Cerrito Detectives diligently investigated the case and identified Malachi Josiah Attaway, an 18-year-old resident of Richmond, as the suspect. Attaway was arrested on August 13, 2025.
On August 15, 2025, the Contra Costa County District Attorney’s Office filed several felony sexual assault charges plus enhancements. Attaway remains in custody.
If you have any additional information, please contact Detective Michael Olivieri at molivieri@elcerrito.gov.
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Aug 14 – El Cerrito Police Announce Arrest of Sexual Assault Suspect
The El Cerrito Police Detectives have been investigating a sexual assault that occurred on the Ohlone Greenway (AKA: the BART Path) during the early hours of Sunday, May 18, 2025.
The suspect initially contacted the victim at Del Norte BART Station before abducting and sexually assaulting her on the Ohlone Greenway between Hill Street and Blake Street. The sexual assault occurred between midnight and 1:30 am.
The initial contact between the suspect and the victim occurred prior to midnight at Del Norte BART on Saturday, May 17, 2025. At the time the suspect was described as a black male, early 20s, skinny, and close to 6-feet tall. He was wearing a black beanie, black hooded sweatshirt, black sweatpants, and a gold chain.
On the morning of August 12, 2025, El Cerrito Detectives received notification from the Combined DNA Index System (CODIS) that provided an investigative lead to the identity of the suspect in this case. An El Cerrito Police Detective authored an arrest warrant that was signed by a Superior Court Judge. Shortly after 8am on August 13, 2025, El Cerrito Police Officers and Detectives arrested Malachi Attaway, who is an eighteen-year-old male from Richmond, as he left the Contra Costa County courthouse in Martinez after appearing on a separate criminal case. Attaway was brought back to El Cerrito PD and booked and processed.
He was then transported to the Martinez Detection Facility and booked on the warrant with a bail amount of $1,530,000. The case will be forwarded to the Contra Costa County District Attorney’s Office for review.