By Bianca Pando, Staff Writer

Millbrae,CA- Within three days of each other, two women reported two separated crimes with sexual violence, one on the Spur Trail and another between 200 Poplar and La Cruz Ave. Both being near Mills High School, students are now avoiding the location, taking longer routes home. 

On August 13, at 7:30 pm, a 28- year old woman was out on an evening walk on the Spur Trail, leading to the first assault out of the two. 

According to San Mateo County’s Press Statement released the following day, the victim was suddenly approached from behind and groped below the waist. Quickly, the man who groped her left the location, riding away on a black mountain bike, further into the trail.

Two days later, another assault involving sexual battery was reported around the same area.  A 38-year old woman and her son were on a walk on August 15, at 10:20 pm, between 200 Poplar Avenue and La Cruz Ave. 

Similar to the first assault, the mother and son were surprised when the man came up to them from behind, and groped the mother below the waist.

With these assaults happening near school grounds, many students now fear for their safety walking to and from school. 

For many students who live behind the school, taking the Spur Trail becomes a common route back home. Janna Ramirez (10) is a student athlete at Mills high school, and takes the trail back home. “ I usually walk home after practice, around 6 to 7 pm, when the assaults happened… I feel really scared.” Since then, she has been more cautious of the trail, sometimes even opting to take longer routes if it becomes too late and dark along the trail. 

Fanny Montes, a sophmore here at Mills walks home on the same route where the incident on August 15 occurred. After finding out that on the same day only six hours later she was walking home a mother and son were violated, Montes exclaimed, “I felt scared to continue walking down that route, even though that is the only route I take to go back home.” She further adds, “ It happened near the school grounds, I don’t feel safe anymore. I keep thinking, that could’ve been me.”

The Spur trail is not only a route back home for many, but also a common trail the cross-country girls run in. 

Jocelyn Kwan (10), cross-country junior varsity runner explains her feelings about running on the trail, after the crimes. “ I feel scared because it happened in an area that I go to a lot… it’s very disgusting to think about,” shared Kwan. For the most part, the runners stay within a large group, however, sometimes a few runners fall behind on the trail.  “[When] I fall behind I try not to think about it, ” she stated. 

A varsity cross-country runner, Janelle Pantilon (10), added her stance. “It definitely makes me feel more cautious and makes me more aware of my surroundings,” Pantilon replied.  “ I make sure my teammates are also aware of where they’re going so they don’t get lost.” 

As the assaults are still being investigated, we hope that San Mateo will continue to work on making sure people, including students, not only feel, but are safe within Millbrae. This is an opportunity to bring to light many issues women still face, even in an area deemed as ‘safe.’ And with that, the fears these cases have on others as well.

Especially with the rise of sexual assaults happening, one can take notice within the school’s community and the students. The rise of fear is established, turning schools into a place filled with caution rather than a space to learn. 

Our high school is not the only school affected by the cases either. An elementary school, Spring Valley, is only two streets away from Mills, and only four streets away from the Spur Trail. Many kids also take the Spur Trail to school, alongside their parents. However, we can see from the information of the assault on August 15, something like this can happen regardless of an adult being present. 

This all creates an uneasy, wary, environment for not only the parents of high school students, the high-schooler themselve, but now involves the parents and students of elementary schools. 

It is very sad to see that now, parents have to worry about the paths they take to take their children to school. And this also brings to question the security of the schools itself.

Within our school, we have our doors locked, and a security man, Micheal, making sure that students are safe. But, will that stop crimes outside of school’s ground? Does this include the Spur Trail, or are students looking out for themselves after school’s done? 

Currently, the Millbrae Police Bureau will be partnering with Mills High School in order to provide security in and outside of school hours and grounds, moving forward.