BPD: Suspect arrested in January sexual assault
A suspect wanted for a sexual assault that occurred in January near The Park at River Walk was apprehended over the weekend.
According to an email from The Bakersfield Police Department, 23-yearold Jordon McLeod has been arrested on suspicion of the assault that occurred at 6:15 a.m. Jan. 29.
BPD said last week that McLeod is a transient who attempted to assault a woman who was running on the bike path in southwest Bakersfield. BPD said the woman heard someone run up behind her and, as she turned, the suspect grabbed her by the shoulders. She pepper sprayed him and fought him off, however, and the man then fled.
The Kern County coroner’s office identified the victim of a suspected homicide last weekend in northwest Bakersfield.
Jane Hartnett Gardner, 58, was found dead in the 7700 block of Vaquero Avenue on Sunday at 4:51 a.m.
According to a news release from the Bakersfield Police Department, officers learned the occupants of the residence might need medical aid, but nobody answered the door. Officers forcibly entered to check the welfare of the occupants and found a dead woman who appeared to be a homicide victim, BPD reported.
A man was detained and later taken to a hospital for injuries he sustained before contact with officers, BPD said in its news release.
Police said the investigation is continuing, and anyone with information is asked to call BPD at 327-7111.
A fatal motorcycle accident occurred Saturday afternoon in Oildale, according to a news release from the California Highway Patrol.
CHP said the incident took place at 2:52 p.m. at the intersection of N. Chester and McCord avenues.
The motorcyclist, who was identified by the Kern County coroner’s office as 46-year-old Keith Leon Post, was traveling south on N. Chester Avenue when he collided with a car that was turning into the intersection, CHP said.
Post was ejected from the motorcycle and died at the scene, according to CHP.
The driver of the car stayed at the scene and fully cooperated, CHP said. Alcohol and/or drugs were not a factor in the accident, the news release said.
A fatal single-vehicle accident occurred Sunday afternoon just north of Shafter, according to a news release from the California Highway Patrol.
The accident occurred at 2:18 p.m. when a Honda, traveling north at a high rate of speed on Poplar Avenue, went off the road near Merced Avenue and struck several trees in an orchard, CHP said.
CHP officers found the driver dead inside the car, the news release said. It appeared that the driver was not wearing a seatbelt and alcohol appeared to be a factor in the incident, CHP said.