Trending Topics

Calif. police use caricature to ask for help arresting suspect

Police say a man stole $500 from a sketch artist but left a caricature of himself behind

caricature_121819_news.jpg

Brian Rokos
Press-Enterprise

RIVERSIDE, Calif. — Even though many bizarre crimes get reported, police departments usually don’t feel like they need to include the words “And no, we are not kidding” in news releases.

But an ordinary theft with a twist has qualified for that advisory from the Riverside Police Department.

On Dec. 5, a caricature artist was working at the Festival of Lights, sketching exaggerated drawings of customers’ faces. One such customer showed up about 10 minutes before midnight and sat down for a session. Once the artist was finished, the customer grabbed the artist’s money bag that contained about $500 and ran away.

Fortunately, the suspect did not take the artwork, leaving behind a drawing that the artist said is a good resemblance of the suspect, said Officer Ryan Railsback, a department spokesman.

“Do you recognize this caricature? And no, we are not kidding,” the news release says.

The suspect was said to be black in his early 20s, 5-foot-1 with an average build, black hair and mustache. He was last seen wearing a blue-and-red jacket, white undershirt, black pants and a red hat.

https://www.facebook.com/RiversidePD/photos/a.10151538298751037/10158872424726037/?type=3&theater

RECOMMENDED FOR YOU