Over the course of the past three months, the Long Beach Police Department (LBPD) believe a single man to be responsible for twelve sexual battery incidents on or near 4th Street between Chestnut and Junipero Avenues.
The LBPD is asking for residents to not only be cautious, but also on the lookout for the suspect who has committed at least a dozen crimes from September through November, with the female victims ranging in age from 12 years-old to mid-60s. All of them were walking on a sidewalk when the suspect rode up behind them on a bicycle and grabbed either their buttocks or breasts as he passed by.
The suspect is described as a white or Hispanic male between the ages of 25- and 50-years-old, 5’6″ to 6’0″ tall, 180 to 240lbs, with gray or black hair. He has been seen wearing an oversize white t-shirt, a gray or blue hoodie, or a black-and-white flannel shirt, paired with either dark shorts or jeans and black skate shoes.
The bicycle has been noted to be either a dark or silver colored mountain bike, BMX, or low-rider bicycle.
Incidents involving a suspect matching the above description have been reported at the following locations:
- September 24, 8:40PM, 4th Street & Alamitos Avenue
- September 24, 9:30PM, 4th Street & Nebraska Avenue
- September 26, 9:30PM, 4th Street & Cherry Avenue
- October 2, 8:45PM, 4th Street & Walnut Avenue
- October 12, 6:40PM, Junipero Avenue & 3rd Street
- October 29, 7:30PM, 4th Street & Cedar Avenue
- November 19, 3:45PM, 4th Street & Elm Avenue
- November 19, 4:30PM, Walnut Avenue & Erie Street
- November 19, 5:00PM, 4th Street & Chestnut Avenue
- November 19, 7:15PM, 4th Street & Lime Avenue
- November 20, 6:30PM, 6th Street & Pacific Avenue
- November 22, 9:55PM, Broadway & Hermosa Avenue
Anyone who thinks they have seen the suspect or is a victim who has not reported the incident is encouraged to call Long Beach Police Sex Crimes Detective Mike Solomita at (562) 570-7368. Anonymous tips may be submitted by calling 800-222-TIPS, texting TIPLA plus your tip to 274637 (CRIMES), or visiting www.lacrimestoppers.org.