$25,000 Reward for the Arrest and Conviction of North Hollywood’s Child Molester

LOS ANGELES POLICE DEPARTMENT
PRESS RELEASE
Thursday, February 25, 1999
$25,000 Reward for the Arrest and Conviction of
North Hollywood’s Child Molester

The Los Angeles City Council is offering a $25,000 reward for
information leading to the arrest and conviction of the suspect who
sexually assaulted a 12-year old girl at Valley Plaza Park in the
North Hollywood area.

North Hollywood Area police continues to investigate two cases
possibly committed by the same person.

On Thursday evening, February 18, 1999, a 12-year-old girl was
kidnapped at gunpoint and sexually assaulted in a restroom at
Valley Plaza Park. Saturday, February 20, 1999 at noon, a man
matching the same description attempted to kidnap an 11-year-old
girl on the street at Oxnard west of Vineland.

Throughout the weekend and on Monday, February 22, 1999, North
Hollywood detectives received numerous tips from the public, thanks
to the support of the media. Additional detectives have been
assigned to the case to work on the clues. We are receiving
information from the public and from law enforcement and
corrections agencies as far away as Colorado.

On Sunday, February 21, 1999, City Councilman Joel Wachs and North
Hollywood Area Captain, Richard Wahler, attended a community
meeting. Captain Wahler appealed for the individual involved, in
these crimes to give himself up so that he can get the help he
needs, without there being another incident.

Throughout the weekend, and during several days this week, the
Metropolitan Division Mounted Unit patrolled several public parks
in the North Hollywood Area. In addition to searching for the
suspect, the presence of the Mounted Unit gave the public
confidence that the parks are safe and that the police are
responding in force to these incidents.

“The public is always outraged about this sort of crime, and so are
we. As law enforcement professionals, we turn our outrage into
commitment to work hard and solve these crimes as rapidly as
possible. We are very grateful to the media, the public, and to
other official agencies that have been so responsive to our request
for assistance in bringing this case to a rapid conclusion. It is
important for the public to know that our parks are generally, very
safe, and that last Thursday’s crime was an aberration. We are
continuing to work diligently to solve this case,” said Captain
Greg Meyer, Commanding Officer, North Hollywood Operations Support
Division.

If you have any information, please contact North Hollywood
Detectives at 818-623-4045.

For Release 2:35 pm PST
February 25, 1999