The Concord Police Department announced the arrest of a man in connection to a sexual assault case.
Accordng to police, On April 8th, 2024, at 6:25 PM, Concord Police officers responded to a sexual assault that had just occurred on the BART Linear Park trail in the area of Port Chicago Highway and the North Concord BART Station. A female victim, who was walking alone on the trail, was attacked by an unknown male, who forced her to the ground and sexually assaulted her.
The victim fought with the suspect, and he fled toward the BART station. The victim and a witness were able to follow the suspect and called the police. Multiple officers from the Concord and BART Police Departments responded to the scene, resulting in the suspect’s detention by BART officers at the BART station. He was identified as the responsible and arrested.
The suspect was identified as Larry Ridge Jr. (40 years old, resident of Berkeley). Yesterday afternoon, the Contra Costa District Attorney’s Office filed several felony charges against Ridge related to this assault. He remains in custody.
The Concord Police Department has no prior contacts with Ridge. He has a previous conviction for murder in 2005 and is not on parole or probation.
UPDATE: Rape and Robbery Among Charges Filed on Larry Dean Ridge, Jr.
Martinez, California — 40-year-old Larry Dean Ridge, Jr. of Berkeley has been charged by the Contra Costa District Attorney’s Office with a three-count felony complaint for forcible rape, assault, and second-degree robbery against a female victim in Concord.
The incident occurred on April 8th around 6:30 pm near the North Concord BART station. The victim was walking on a pedestrian/bike trail when Ridge allegedly pushed the victim to the ground and proceeded to rape her. The victim was able to strike Ridge, who grabbed the victim’s purse and stole her cell phone and wallet. He left the purse as he fled toward the BART station. A witness biking on the trail was able to help the victim to the BART station, where a station agent called 911.
Concord Police officers arrived at the station shortly after and were able to locate and detain Ridge, who was on a BART train. After both the victim and the witness identified him as the assailant, he was arrested by officers.
Today, Ridge was arraigned in Martinez on the charges, including special allegations for prior serious or violent felonies in another county. He’s being held in the Martinez Detention Facility. His bail has been set at $1,250,000.
Case No. 01-24-01348 | The People of the State of California v. Ridge, Larry Dean, Jr.
Related
- Feb 3 – Bill Aims to Stop Transient Releases of Sexually Violent Predators
- Dec 15, 2023 – Concord Police Seek Identity of Man Who Sexually Assaulted Female
