The Kern County Sheriff’s Department is investigating an report of a kidnapping and attempted sexual assault that had occurred in the McFarland area on Friday morning.
Deputies said they received a call at 7 a.m. that a 72-year-old woman had been walking on a dirt road just east of Browning Road Elementary School in east McFarland when she was struck from behind by a vehicle. The driver got out of the vehicle and offered the victim assistance. The female victim then voluntarily got into the suspect’s vehicle and asked the suspect to drive her home. The suspect said he would drive her to the hospital instead, and then drove her to an isolated orchard area about a half mile north of Peterson Road, east of Driver Road.
Deputies said the suspect then forcibly removed the victim from the vehicle, forced her to the ground, and began attempting to remove her clothing. A farm laborer working in the area interrupted the assault, at which time the suspect fled in the vehicle east on a dirt access road.
Deputies described the suspect as a Hispanic male, approximately 20-30 years old, medium build, about 200 lbs., short dark hair with a short beard. The vehicle was described as a dark colored four door Toyota Camry. The victim sustained minor injuries and was treated at a local hospital.
The investigation is ongoing. If anyone has information on this case they are asked to call the Sheriff’s Office at 661-861-3110 or Secret Witness at 661-322-4040.
