Proposal to Offer Rewards in Assault Cases Rejected
A proposal to offer a reward in efforts to capture assailants in two sexual assaults was rejected this week by the City Council.
Councilwoman Maria Moreno proposed a $5,000 reward for information leading to arrests and convictions in the two assaults. The city has offered rewards, with help from community donations, in past murder cases.
But her council colleagues said the city can’t start offering rewards in every case.
“There has to be perimeters on this,” Councilwoman Carol Downey said.
On Jan. 1, a 13-year-old girl was sexually assaulted in a restroom at Tuffree Hill Park. The next day, a 49-year-old woman was sexually assaulted while walking her dogs in Kraemer Memorial Park.
Police said the crimes are unrelated. To date, no one has come forward with information regarding the identity of the attackers.
Moreno said she wanted to “send a message to the criminal element that crime will not be tolerated.”
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