Location: Cottontail and Lickey Court, Goshen

Incident Date: 09-04-18

Case Number: 18-11629

City: Goshen

Posted by: Media Relations

On September 4, 2018 at about 2:40 pm., Tulare County Sheriff Deputies responded to the area of Cottontail St and Lickey Court in Goshen. When they arrived, deputies contacted a male adult victim, who told deputies an unknown man had assaulted him while getting out of his car and ran away. Deputies immediately began checking the area and caught up with 24-year-old Derrek Porter of Visalia after he tried to run away. 

During the investigation, deputies discovered Porter had confronted the victim as he arrived home with his 4-year-old daughter. The suspect, who has no relation and is completely unknown to the victims, said the 4-year-old was not the victim’s daughter. A short time later, the suspect and the victim became involved in a fight directly in front of the victim's home. At some point the 4-year-old got out the car and the suspect managed to grab the girl. Porter was then confronted by the victims' family, who were able to get the 4-year-old back before Porter ran off. 

Detectives from the Tulare County Sheriff’s Department Investigation Bureau and Forensic Investigation Unit responded to scene and took over the investigation. The suspect was subsequently booked at the Adult Pre-Trial Facility for attempted kidnapping.

This case remains active and is currently under investigation. Anyone with information about this crime is encouraged to call Detective Armstrong with the Tulare County Sheriff's Office at (559) 733-6218 or they can remain anonymous by calling or texting (559)725-4194 or through email at tcso@tipnow.com.