Man in clown mask sexually assaults woman minutes before robbing another, CA cops say
A man wearing a clown mask is accused of sexually assaulting a woman minutes before robbing another, California authorities said.
Police received a call about a robbery “in a parking lot near an ATM machine” in Victorville on Tuesday, Oct. 25 shortly after 5 p.m., the Victorville Police Department said in an Oct. 26 news release.
The 54-year-old woman said she had been robbed by a man “in a white clown mask and a red sweatshirt,” police said.
“As deputies drove to the call,” they spotted a man matching the woman’s description and detained him, according to police.
The victim identified Joel Hernandez as the “suspect who robbed her,” police said.
Deputies found “evidence of robbery” in Hernandez’s backpack, including $500 in cash, police said.
Shortly after, police said they also learned Hernandez was possibly involved in another crime committed minutes before the robbery.
Another woman, 50, called 911 to say “she was sexually assaulted and groped in the parking lot of the El Super Market” by a man in a “white clown mask and red sweatshirt,” according to police.
This woman also later identified Hernandez as the suspect, police said.
The 22-year-old was arrested and booked into jail on charges of sexual battery and robbery, police said. His bail was set at $200,000.
Police believe there may be more victims and asks anyone with information to call police at 760-241-2911
Victorville is about 85 miles northeast of Los Angeles.
This story was originally published October 27, 2022 at 12:50 PM with the headline "Man in clown mask sexually assaults woman minutes before robbing another, CA cops say."
