Kern County sheriff’s investigators are asking the public for help identifying a man they say is connected to a burglary at Faith Temple Church that happened back on July 26. No arrest has been announced, and officials are turning to the community for tips that could move the case forward.
According to KGET, the Kern County Sheriff’s Office is seeking the public’s help in identifying the suspect linked to the burglary earlier this year. The outlet reports the case is formally tied to the Faith Temple Church break-in that occurred on July 26.
How to Report a Tip
Investigators say anyone with information, eyewitnesses to the incident, or people who simply recognize the man in question should reach out. Per the station’s report, callers can contact the sheriff’s office at 661-861-3110 or the Secret Witness Line at 661-322-4040, and they can reference case number 2026-00104371 when they call.
A photo of the suspect tied to the case is being circulated courtesy of the sheriff’s office. The agency’s Crime Solvers page, where such images are posted, carries a standing caution for the public: individuals pictured there may simply be witnesses or otherwise connected to a case rather than suspects, and the page explicitly states, “DO NOT attempt to detain or apprehend these individuals.”
A Separate Church Break-In Across Town
The Faith Temple Church case isn’t the only recent burglary investigation involving a house of worship in the Bakersfield area. The Bakersfield Californian reported that seven people entered Our Lady of Guadalupe Church several times on July 18 and stole items from its banquet hall, in an incident being investigated separately by Bakersfield police.
In that case, police described one of the suspects as a Hispanic or white man wearing a white hat, black shirt, blue jeans, gray-and-white shoes, and a blue backpack, according to The Bakersfield Californian. The two investigations are being handled by different agencies and involve different churches, suspects, and dates.
For now, the Faith Temple Church case remains open as the sheriff’s office works to put a name to the face in its photo. Anyone with details is encouraged to call in using the numbers above and reference the case number tied to the July 26 burglary.
