OPD asks for help identifying “person of interest” in assault investigation
on February 24, 2011
The Oakland Police Department is asking for the public’s help in identifying the man in this video, whom the police are calling a “person of interest,” not a suspect, in the February 7 sexual assault of a woman in the Lake Merritt area.
A woman reported being sexually assaulted and beaten in her apartment complex near the 800 block of Jackson Street at approximately 10 pm on February 7. Her assailant was described as an African American man with a medium complexion who is approximately 6 feet tall.
The OPD’s Special Victims Unit is investigating the case, which is considered high priority.
Three other sexual assaults have been reported in the Lake Merritt area since September, 2o1o, and neighborhood merchants have been working to make residents aware of the attacks. In these three cases, the suspect was described as an African-American man with a medium build and a height of 5’10’ to 6 feet. Each of the victims of the first three cases was robbed in addition to being sexually assaulted.
The OPD does not have a suspect in custody and has stated that it is unknown whether the same person is responsible for all four assaults. The OPD has not specified the exact nature of the sexual assaults.
Anyone with information regarding the person shown in the video is asked to call the OPD’s Youth and Family Services Division at 510-238-3641.
The video in this post was provided by the Oakland Police Department.
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