Full Notification

DATE/TIME: July 27, 2015

INCIDENT: PC 220 Assault with the intent to commit rape

LOCATION: Baseline Road and Hellman Avenue in Rancho Cucamonga

SUSPECT: Latham, Jacob 24 year old from Rancho Cucamonga

SUMMARY:
On Monday, July 27, 2015, at approximately 5:54 p.m., deputies from the Rancho Cucamonga Police Department were dispatched to the area of Baseline Road and Hellman Avenue. The reporting party was driving by the area when the female victim ran into the street crying, “He's trying to rape me”. The reporting party told dispatch the victim pointed toward Lion’s Park at the suspect who was still at the scene. The suspect was described as a tall black male in his 20’s with a thin build.

Deputy Buscemi arrived on scene and contacted the 63 year old victim who frequents the area. The victim reported she was seated at the bus stop when the suspect placed a knife to her throat and grabbed her arm. The suspect told the victim he was going to rape her and moved her toward some bushes in the area. The victim resisted and the suspect told her he was going to kill her. The victim continued to resist and the suspect stopped the attack. The suspect fled the scene, ran to his vehicle and then drove away. The weapon, found to be a box cutter, was recovered at the scene.

The victim and witness described the vehicle as a Black colored Chevy with a partial license plate ending in “802”. Video surveillance was located in the area and a vehicle matching the description was found at a nearby gas station. The video showed the suspect vehicle at the gas station while the victim was inside the store. Through additional investigation, deputies identified a vehicle matching the description along with a complete license plate.

Deputies located the vehicle at the registered owner’s address. Jacob Latham was observed entering the vehicle and matched the description given by the victim and witnesses. Latham was detained and interviewed. He admitted to being intoxicated from alcohol, observing and following the victim. Latham attempted to conceal his identity by wrapping a shirt around his head. He decided to assault the victim because he thought he would not be detected by law enforcement.

Latham and his clothing match the description of a suspect in a similar assault later that same day in Claremont. The assault in Claremont was reported to have been approximately one hour after the incident in Rancho Cucamonga. The clothing described and worn in both incidents was recovered and Claremont detectives were notified. A search warrant was authored and the clothing worn by Latham during the assault was recovered.

Latham was booked at West Valley Detention Center for PC 220 – Assault to commit rape, and PC 245 – Assault with a deadly weapon.

Anyone with information regarding this incident is urged to contact the Rancho Cucamonga Police Department (909) 477-2800. Callers wishing to remain anonymous may contact the We-Tip Hotline at 1-800-78CRIME (27463) or you may leave information on the We-Tip website at www.wetip.com

Refer: Deputy T. Buscemi/Detective M. Beitler

Station: Rancho Cucamonga Station

Phone No. 909-477-2800

Case No. 111508723

JOHN MCMAHON, Sheriff-Coroner
San Bernardino County Sheriff-Coroner Department