On Monday, June 20, 2016, Twin Falls Police Chief Craig Kingsbury addressed the City Council regarding the current investigation of a sexual assault that occurred at the Fawnbrook Apartments in Twin Falls on June 2, 2016.
On June 2, 2016 the Twin Falls Communications Center was contacted by a mother who reported that her juvenile daughter had been urinated on by some boys who lived in their apartment complex. Minutes later the mother called the communications center to report that it was a sexual assault. Paramedics and law enforcement were dispatched and TFPD detectives responded. At the time of the report the victim was safe inside her apartment with her mother.
The individuals responsible for the crimes against this victim have been charged in juvenile court. Two juveniles were taken into custody and booked into the Snake River Juvenile Detention Center last Friday. The cases against them have been sealed.
Due to State law as it pertains to juvenile offenders as well as protocol for dealing with victims of sexual assault cases, Chief Kingsbury could not address any further facts regarding this incident.
Chief Kingsbury stated the first and most important priority is the safety of the victim. The PD along with medical personnel always make sure that any and all medical needs are met prior to any investigation. It is not general police practice to have officers/detectives conduct extensive interviews with the victims. Rather, specially trained forensic interviewers, usually with St. Luke’s Children At Risk Evaluation Services (CARES), interview the victim. CARES also offers other services to victims and their family members. In fact, in some investigations involving young offenders, CARES may be used to conduct interviews with those offenders. In cases where translation is needed, there are interpreters available to CARES either through the hospital, CSI or other entities.
CARES investigations of this nature rely on physical evidence as well as evidence obtained by specially trained forensic interviewers, Chief Kingsbury affirmed. CARES works with the victims and their families to make sure a proper safety plan is in place. CARES interviewers are trained to ask questions that are developmentally appropriate to each child so that the child can comprehend and answer the question in a safe, neutral facility.
The Twin Falls Police Department, in partnership with the Twin Falls Prosecutor’s Office, Twin Falls County Sheriff’s Office, Magic Valley Paramedics, Health and Welfare, St. Luke’s Regional Medical Center, and CARES have worked together during this case to ensure the safety of the victim and to charge the perpetrators of this crime accordingly.
Chief Kingsbury further stated that law enforcement and medical personnel responded in a timely manner, there is no evidence to support that a knife was used during the crime, there is no evidence that the suspect’s father was “high fiving” the suspect after the incident, and absolutely no merit to the claims that the City Council “covered up” the incident.
Some of our partner agencies for lewd and lascivious investigations include: CARES, St. Luke’s Regional Medical Center, Idaho Department of Health and Welfare, Twin Falls County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office, Twin Falls Sheriff’s Office – Victim/Witness coordinator, and the Magic Valley Paramedics.
Anyone with information about the incident is encouraged to call the Twin Falls Police Department at 208-735-4357.