Community patrol planned after 2 women assaulted in Sacramento’s Lavender Heights
SACRAMENTO, Calif. —
Two women suffered minor injuries after they were assaulted early Monday near Badlands nightclub in Sacramento’s Lavender Heights district, police said.
The incident marked the second reported assault in the area in less than 10 days and prompted community members to organize volunteer safety patrols while calling for increased security.
One of the women said she and her wife were attacked after leaving a queer event she hosted at Roscoe’s Bar & Burgers on the night of Rainbow Festival.
Employees at Badlands, a neighboring nightclub, heard the altercation and intervened, according to the business.
Sacramento police said officers responded to the area at about 2:45 a.m. Monday. No arrests have been announced.
Jessica Mackenzie, who lives nearby, said she attended the event at Roscoe’s earlier in the night but left several hours before the assault.
“This is supposed to be a safe place for the queer community,” Mackenzie said. “It’s crazy it happened at a queer event, especially outside of the event the person was hosting.”
Mackenzie said the violence has made her concerned about returning to an area where she previously felt safe.
“I feel like no one should not feel safe, especially in the one place you’re supposed to feel your most self,” she said.
Police have not determined whether bias motivated the latest assault and have said the recent incidents appear to be unrelated.
A week ago, a Sacramento man reported being targeted and attacked alongside his friend for being members of the LGBTQ+ community. Multiple victims described a group of four men shouting homophobic slurs before attacking them near near 20th and L streets.
Joseph Sais said he had always considered the neighborhood a place where he could freely celebrate his identity.
Sacramento City Councilmember Phil Pluckebaum said he believes the victims’ accounts that they were targeted. He characterized the recent violence as bias-motivated, though police have not made that determination.
“I certainly have no doubt and believe the victims here that what was happening in those moments is they’re being targeted,” Pluckebaum said.
Pluckebaum said arranging additional police patrols could take time. In the meantime, community members are organizing a volunteer neighborhood patrol in Lavender Heights.
Zachary Basler, vice president of the Stonewall Democrats, said at least 25 people had volunteered for the patrol.
“We’re working on getting the training done so that we can have this patrol available and walking the streets as early as Friday,” Basler said.
Basler said volunteers wearing lavender vests would walk in pairs during busy Friday and Saturday nights and at major LGBTQ+ events. They would carry flashlights but no weapons and would be trained to observe, report concerns, contact police and attempt verbal de-escalation when appropriate.
“It’s just the pair system,” Basler said. “Hopefully, we can de-escalate the situation and get those people to move on if we think that they’re going to be causing a problem.”
Badlands said it gave surveillance video to investigators and is increasing its security presence. The nightclub is also offering escorts to guests’ vehicles upon request.
The Midtown Association said it plans to increase lighting along K Street and offer safe-space training to local businesses.
Police have not announced any arrests or confirmed whether the latest assault was motivated by bias.
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