Quick detective work led to the arrest of a 23-year-old Bakersfield man accused of sexually assaulting a woman near the 1200 block of Diamond Street after leaving a bar early in the morning on Wednesday, Dec. 12.
According to police, the attack happened after the victim left The Tavern with the suspect, Hosh Thomas. A man riding a skateboard heard the victim’s cries for help and was able to scare the attacker away. The man stayed with the victim until police arrived.
Information given to investigators led police to The Tavern and helped identify Thomas as the suspect.
“[Detectives] started contacting all the suspect’s known friends and contacts in the area, and as a result he made a call to the police station,” said San Diego Police Sgt. Chuck Kaye. “As a result, they were able to find out where he was and take him into custody,”
Thomas was arrested Friday, Dec. 14.
“The Tavern was extremely cooperative. They were able to provide some good information that led to the identification of a potential suspect, and the victim was able to identify the person in a photo line-up,” Kaye said.
According to information found online, Thomas was an aspiring actor and musician with interests working in the television and music industries.
A onetime wide receiver for Southern Utah University in 2005, Thomas currently sits at South Bay Detention Facility with bail set at $125,000. He is held on charges of rape, assault with intent to commit a felony and assault with a deadly weapon or force, according to the San Diego County Sheriffs’ office.