Full Notification

WALNUT CREEK POLICE DEPARTMENT
PRESS RELEASE
Chief of Police Thomas Chaplin
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For Immediate Release
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WCPD Case Number: 19-9632

Date / Time Occurred: March 26, 2019 at 7:20 AM

Location: 2000 Block of Camel Lane in Walnut Creek

Crime Description/Code: PC 664/209 (a)(1) - Attempted Kidnapping with the Intent to Rape
PC 220 (a)(1) – Assault with the Intent to Rape
PC 311.11 (a) – Possession of Child Pornography

Suspect: Matt Owen Caruso (04/09/81) of Newark, CA

On March 26, 2019 at approximately 7:20 AM, Walnut Creek Police received a 911 call from a female victim regarding an assault that had just occurred. The victim reported that while she was walking from her residence to her vehicle, she was approached and assaulted with a stun gun by an unknown male suspect. The victim was able to fight off her attacker and the suspect fled the scene in a newer silver Volkswagen sedan.

On the afternoon of March 26, 2019, a citizen in the City of Fremont located suspicious items which appeared to have been purposely discarded. The citizen notified the Fremont Police Department, who responded to the scene. Officers recovered the suspicious items, which were determined to be related to the early morning assault in Walnut Creek. After further examination, the items included plans for and means to kidnap and sexually assault multiple female victims.

Through the course of the investigation, Matt Owen Caruso was identified as the suspect in this case and additional intended female victims were also identified.

On the morning of March 27, 2019, Walnut Creek Police and Newark Police located and arrested Matt Owen Caruso at his residence in the City of Newark. A subsequent search of Caruso’s residence resulted in the seizure of multiple firearms and child pornography. Caruso was booked into Contra Costa County Jail.

On March 29, 2019, the Contra Costa County District Attorney’s Office filed the following felony charges against Caruso: PC 664/209 (a)(1) - Attempted Kidnapping with the Intent to Rape, PC 220 (a)(1) – Assault with the Intent to Rape and PC 311.11 (a) – Possession of Child Pornography. Caruso is currently being held on $1,110,000 bail.

Thanks to the assistance from both Fremont and Newark Police Departments we were able to quickly and safely get Caruso in-custody before he could harm anyone else.

If you have any information regarding this investigation, the suspect in this case or a possible similar incident, please contact Walnut Creek Police Detective G. Leonard or Detective G. Ezard at 925-943-5844. For press there will be someone available for comment from 4:00-5:00 PM today (Lieutenant Cashion 925.943.5880).