DATE: Tuesday, May 20, 1997                 TAG: 9705200212

SECTION: LOCAL                   PAGE: B5   EDITION: FINAL 

SOURCE: BY LIZ SZABO, STAFF WRITER 

DATELINE: CHESAPEAKE                        LENGTH:   42 lines

WOMAN SUFFERS SKULL FRACTURE IN ASSAULT AT HER GREAT BRIDGE HOME

A 33-year-old Great Bridge woman is in guarded condition at Chesapeake General Hospital after being assaulted at her home, police say.

The woman, whom police declined to identify, sustained a skull fracture. Her husband told police he found her lying in the driveway of their home in Seabrooke Point at 7:15 p.m. Sunday, Chesapeake police spokesman Dave Hughes said.

Police believe the woman was probably struck on the head, but found no weapons, Hughes said.

There were no signs of sexual assault and police have no suspects or motives.

Neighbors who congregated on sidewalks Monday afternoon said they were shocked. The Seabrooke Landing subdivision is built around Bells Mill Creek, and many homes have small landings built on the water.

Some residents say they are worried about violent crime close to home.

``This neighborhood is pretty safe,'' said Sharon Smith. ``I'm sorry to hear that someone got hurt and especially that it was someone in my neighborhood.''

Some neighbors said they consider the neighborhood so safe that they rarely lock their doors. Several had left their cars parked in front of their homes with the windows rolled down.

Some neighbors said they were at home in their yards at the time of the assault.

``We were outside in the backyard from 6 to 8:30 p.m. last night, and we never saw anything or heard anything,'' said Arlene Harris. ``My daughter was playing in the front yard, so you'd think we would have heard something.''

The Seabrooke Landing Civic Association plans to hold an informational meeting about the assault, said association president Lynn Ischep. The association is considering organizing a neighborhood watch program in response.

``We're a close-knit neighborhood, and everyone prides themselves on that,'' Ischep said. ``This is something worth talking to the neighborhood about.'' KEYWORDS: ASSAULT

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