Tempe, Arizona: Police Warn Armed Kidnapping and Sexual Assault Suspect Is Still at Large

Tempe police are warning residents that an armed man wanted in a kidnapping and sexual assault early Saturday is still at large, and the department issued a public safety advisory so people in the city know what officers are looking for.

What police say happened

About 2:30 a.m. on October 31, a man approached a woman in the area of Dorsey Lane and Eighth Street in Tempe, according to Tempe police. Police say he forced her into his car at gunpoint and drove her to an unknown area, where he assaulted her. The Arizona Republic and FOX 10 Phoenix both reported the police account on Saturday, and Tempe police said in a social media post that officers are actively investigating the incident.

Police have not said how the woman got away, where the assault took place after she was driven from the area, or what condition she is in. The department has not released her name or age, and this story does not publish them. What police have released is a description of the man and the vehicle, because officers are asking the community to be aware while he remains at large.

The suspect description

Police described the suspect as a Hispanic man between 30 and 40 years old, with thin facial hair, last seen wearing a black shirt. He was driving a light colored SUV, police said. That is the full description the department has given so far. Police do not have anyone in custody.

"Our priority is everyone's safety. We understand information is limited, but want the community to be aware," Tempe police wrote in the statement carried by both outlets. The department posted the warning on Saturday, hours after the early morning incident, while the investigation was still active.

What is not yet known

Police have not said whether they believe the man knew the woman or whether the attack was random. They have not released surveillance images, a more specific vehicle description, or any information about where the car went after leaving the Dorsey Lane and Eighth Street area. They also have not said whether detectives are investigating any similar reports.

For now the warning stands on its own: an armed suspect is at large in Tempe, described as a man of 30 to 40 with thin facial hair and a black shirt, driving a light colored SUV, and police say the investigation is continuing.