Intruder pulls down woman’s clothes, attacks her in 24-Hour Fitness, California cops say

A workout class at a 24-Hour Fitness gym in California took a shocking turn Monday night when a man who walked in off the street tried to sexually assault a woman, Fremont police say.

Jonathan Anderson, 33, entered the members-only gym in the 39000 block of Paseo Padre Parkway at 6:20 p.m., police say in a release posted on Facebook.

He went to a fitness class where the woman was doing push-ups and held her down while he pulled down her clothes and sexually assaulted her, police say.

The woman screamed for help and a classmate pushed Anderson off, then stood between him and the woman, according to police. Anderson went to the front of the gym, where 24-Hour Fitness employees detained him until police arrived.

Police praised the bystander for intervening.

“Their quick action stopped this horrendous assault and aided in the suspect’s quick arrest,” police wrote on Facebook. “It took bravery and courage to intervene.”

Anderson faces charges including sexual assault, assault with intent to commit oral copulation and violating probation, police wrote on Facebook.

“Detectives believe this may not have been the first time Anderson has assaulted someone in this manner,” police wrote.

Police asked that anyone with information on Anderson contact detectives at 510-790-6954 or send an anonymous tip by texting TIP FREMONTPD followed by your message to 888-777, or via the web at https://local.nixle.com/tip/alert/6216337.

This story was originally published February 20, 2020 at 1:27 PM with the headline "Intruder pulls down woman’s clothes, attacks her in 24-Hour Fitness, California cops say."