Austin police are asking for the public’s help to find 36-year-old Joe Louis Cheatham, who is wanted on a warrant for sexual assault. Investigators say he is about 5 feet 9 inches tall and roughly 175 pounds, and they have circulated a recent photo along with his warrant details to help people recognize him. Officials are urging anyone with information to use anonymous tip lines instead of stepping in themselves.
APD Names Suspect, Charge, and Warrant Number
In a social media post, the Austin Police Department said Cheatham is wanted on a warrant for sexual assault and identified him by warrant number D1DC25301701. According to the Austin Police Department, Cheatham is 36 years old, and the message included his height and weight to assist investigators. The alert appeared as part of APD’s recurring #WantedWednesday series, which spotlights open cases where police say community tips could help close the gap.
How To Submit Tips And Possible Reward
Anyone with information is asked to send an anonymous tip through Capital Area Crime Stoppers or by calling 512-472-8477. A reward of up to $1,000 may be available for information that leads to an arrest, as outlined by the City of Austin. Tips can also be filed online through Capital Area Crime Stoppers’ website. If you believe the suspect poses an immediate threat, police stress that you should call 9-1-1 and not try to approach or detain anyone yourself.
Why Police Use Weekly Wanted Posts
Police departments across the country have leaned into weekly wanted posts as a way to crowdsource leads and speed up investigations, especially in cases where a suspect’s photo and basic description might jog someone’s memory. Reporting on social-media policing tactics has pointed to both quicker tips and ongoing concerns about privacy and possible misidentification, as noted by DW. Similar #WantedWednesday campaigns have been used by other U.S. agencies, including in Dallas, where officers have highlighted suspects and appealed for information in open cases, according to The Dallas Morning News.
Legal Note
An outstanding warrant means authorities are seeking to arrest a person based on alleged charges, not that a court has found them guilty. Anyone named in such a warrant is presumed innocent until proven guilty in court. Investigators ask that people with information share it with law enforcement rather than confronting the individual.
