GOLDEN, Colo. — Golden police have released suspect descriptions and locations for two alleged sexual assault incidents that prompted a public safety announcement in late January.
The first alleged sexual assault happened in the Golden Cemetery in the early afternoon of Jan. 18, according to a Friday release from the City of Golden. The second incident, described as an alleged attempted sexual assault, occurred exactly a week later, Jan. 25, on the Clear Creek Trail when a suspect chased a woman who was running on the trail, according to the release.
The second incident is being described as an attempted sexual assault "based on the information currently available and the similarities to the other alleged sexual assault; however, the victim was able to get away before the assault was completed," City of Golden Spokesperson Meredith Ritchie wrote in an email to Denver7.
Investigators have not determined if the incidents are related, the release said. It "remains a possibility" that the two suspects could be the same person, but police "do not yet have enough information to confirm a connection," Ritchie said in the email.
Composite sketches that were created based on the victims' memories were also shared in the release, and Golden Police are asking for the public's help to identify potential suspects.
The suspect in the Jan. 18 incident is described in the release as a Hispanic man in his late 20s to early 30s with a medium build and dark, curly or wavy hair, brown eyes and a groomed beard. Police believes he drives a maroon 2001 Subaru Forester.
The suspect in the Jan. 25 incident is described in the release as a Middle Eastern man in his mid-20s with a slender build and dark, curly or wavy hair, brown eyes and a faint mustache. The release said there is "no known vehicle associated" with him.
The police department drew criticism in the initial Facebook announcement as well as the most recent update for not releasing information on the suspects and incident locations sooner.
"We understand the community’s concerns and the desire for as much information as possible as quickly as possible," Ritchie wrote in the email. "At the same time, there is a critical need to protect the integrity of the investigation, safeguard the privacy and well-being of the victims, and avoid tipping off potential suspects in a way that could cause them to flee, alter their behavior, or go underground.
"It is a careful balance between transparency and effective investigative work," she wrote, adding that officers "have heightened alert in our community to bring these cases to a close."
Police are asking anyone who may be able to help with identifying either suspect to call Golden Police Department’s non-emergency number at 303-980-7300.
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