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HomeMy WebLinkAbout13_08_27 SECRET WITNESS UPDATE Sexual Assault BPD KCSO Hotline 13-159967 BAKERSFIELD POLICE DEPARTMENT PRESS RELEASE Greg Williamson, Chief of Police Contact: Michaela Sims Public Information Office 661-326-3803 msims@bakersfieldpd.us For Immediate Release August 27, 2013 The Bakersfield Police Department and Kern County Sheriff’s Office wants to remind the community that the Secret Witness Program is offering a reward of up to $5,000.00 for each of the four sexual assault cases being investigated by the Joint Task Force, for a maximum reward of $20,000. In order to receive a reward, the information must lead to the arrest and filing of a criminal complaint against the suspect responsible for the sexual assaults. The Secret Witness phone line operates 24 hours a day. Secrecy is guaranteed to those who call. Callers will be asked to select a code name and code number when they provide information to Secret Witness. Should additional contact with the caller be necessary, the code name will be published along with a request for the original caller to establish contact. Once contact is made, the caller will be asked to provide their original code number for verification purposes. The same steps will be taken to pay a reward to the caller. Secret Witness is operated under the direction of an independent, voluntary board of directors representing civic organizations, law enforcement agencies, media outlets, and corporate sponsors. Anyone with information regarding this incident is urged to contact the Secret Witness of Kern County at (661) 322-4040 or the hotline at (661) 852-7800. Previous Release August 21, 2013 The Bakersfield Police Department and the Kern County Sheriff’s Office are vigilantly investigating the sexual assaults that have occurred within the last two months in the East Bakersfield area. In order to ensure all information and resources are being utilized in the most effective manner to identify the suspect, the Bakersfield Police Department and Kern County Sheriff’s Office have combined personnel to form a joint investigative task force. The partnership of this task force has led to further investigation of an attempted sexual assault that occurred on July 1, 2013 in the 2900 block of Virginia Avenue where the suspect descriptions and actions are similar in nature to the three previous reported cases. In addition, the task force is further investigating two previously reported burglaries that also occurred in the 2900 block of Virginia Avenue on March 25, 2013 and May 14, 2013 that may possibly be related. 13-159967 The task force has established a hotline for phone calls regarding any of the previously mentioned cases. The phone number for this hotline is (661) 852-7800. The attached flyer is currently being distributed to the community in a proactive effort to educate and inform the public of the previous sexual assaults and important safety tips to utilize. The task force strongly encourages the community to report anything that may be relevant to this investigation, which may lead to the identification and arrest of this dangerous suspect. Anyone with information regarding the identity of the suspect or information related to any of these cases is urged to call the hotline or the Secret Witness Line at (661) 322-4040. Both lines operate 24 hours a day. Previous Release August 20, 2013 On August 19, 2013, at approximately 3:43 a.m., Bakersfield Police Officers responded to the 200 block of Quantico Avenue for a rape that just occurred. When officers arrived, they learned the suspect forced entry into the victim’s residence, where he bound the adult victim and a juvenile. The suspect then sexually assaulted the adult victim and fled the residence with items of value. The description and actions taken by this suspect are similar to two previous cases that occurred in East Bakersfield and are under current investigation by the Bakersfield Police Department and the Kern County Sheriff’s Office. These cases occurred on July 18, 2013 in the 4300 Block of Columbus Street and on August 1, 2013 in the 2900 Block of Virginia Avenue. The suspect is described as a Black male with a dark complexion, in his late 20’s to 30s, 5’08” to 6’00” tall, with a medium build. He has been seen wearing a black ski mask, dark hooded sweatshirt and shorts. In the most recent case he was in possession of a handgun. Both agencies are asking for the community’s assistance in locating this suspect who is wanted for sexual assault, false imprisonment, residential burglary and robbery. He should be considered armed and dangerous. The Bakersfield Police Department and Kern County Sheriff’s Office also wants to urge the community to be vigilant in reporting suspicious activity and suspicious persons. It’s important to be aware of your surroundings at all times and contact law enforcement if you see or hear anything suspicious. The Secret Witness Program is offering a reward of up to $5,000.00 for each case for information leading to the arrest and filing of a criminal complaint against the suspect responsible for the sexual assaults that are being investigated. The Secret Witness phone line operates 24 hours a day. Secrecy is guaranteed to those who call. Callers will be asked to select a code name and code number when they provide information to Secret Witness. Should additional contact with the caller be necessary, the code name will be published along with a request for the original caller to establish contact. Once contact is made, the caller will be asked to provide their original code number for verification purposes. The same steps will be taken to pay a reward to the caller. Secret Witness is operated under the direction of an independent, voluntary board of directors representing civic organizations, law enforcement agencies, media outlets, and corporate sponsors. Anyone with information regarding this incident is urged to contact the Secret Witness of Kern County at (661) 322-4040, the Bakersfield Police Department at (661) 327-7111, or Kern County Sheriff’s Office at (661) 861-3110. You can now send an anonymous text message to the Bakersfield Police Department. It’s quick and it’s easy. Simply enter 274637 into your phone and text BPDCRIMES along with your message. The text is sent to the police department and the sender remains completely anonymous. Tips can also be anonymously sent through the smartphone “TipSubmit” mobile App or via email at https://www.tipsubmit.com.