The Riverside County Sheriff's Office is currently seeking public assistance in the hunt for a suspect linked to two alarming incidents in Bermuda Dunes, including a reported sexual assault. On Wednesday, August 21, deputies were called to an apartment complex on the 78000 block of Avenue 42 after a masked man allegedly followed a woman to her apartment. The suspect fled when the woman screamed.
Later the same day, at around 10:27 a.m., a sexual assault was reported in the vicinity of Adams Street and Dune Lake Street. According to the Riverside County Sheriff's Office, the victim described the assailant as wearing a black ski mask and matching the description of the man from the earlier incident. Despite their efforts, the deputies, who checked the area for the suspect, were unable to locate him; however, a surveillance video capturing an image of the suspect was obtained.
The suspect has been described by the victims as a black male adult, believed to be in his 20s, with a medium to heavy build. In both accounts, he was seen wearing a mask – a detail that suggests a connection between the two incidents.
Authorities believe that the same individual is responsible for both the suspicious activity and the sexual assault. The Thermal Sheriff's Station has issued a request for aid in identifying and locating the suspect. The office is asking anyone with information about the suspect's identity or his whereabouts to contact Investigator Perez of the Thermal Sheriff's Station at 760–863–8447 or the Riverside Sheriff’s Dispatch at 951–776–1099. The office has also provided the option for individuals to remain anonymous by contacting Valley Crimestoppers at (760) 341–7867.
