“Investigators rely on assistance from the California Department of Justice to help with evidence that can lead to a suspect.  Without the work done at DOJ forensic labs, many cases would go unsolved.  In this case, the DNA evidence was processed and a match was made.  We thank the criminalists at DOJ labs for the very important work they do.”

CSLEA President Alan Barcelona

UKIAH – On February 17, 2026, the Ukiah Police Department announced the arrest of a Willits man following a sex assault investigation that the California Department of Justice assisted with.

On September 1, 2025, the Ukiah Police Department’s Investigative Unit began an investigation into a sexual assault after a 34-year-old woman reported that she had been lured into a vehicle by a man posing as an Uber driver. The victim was walking home after swimming at the Russian River when the man in the vehicle pulled up next to her and offered her a ride. The victim believed that the vehicle was an Uber that had been ordered for her by her husband, who had left the river earlier and already returned home. Once inside the vehicle, the male driver identified himself as “Bruce” and claimed to be an Uber driver.

The man began driving in the direction of the victim’s home, but she noticed that they had driven passed her street. The victim asked the man to turn around, but the man ignored her and drove to the Riverside Park at the east end of Gobbi Street. Once at the park the man began sexually assaulting the victim. The victim yelled at the man to stop but he continued to forcefully attempt sexual contact with the her. The victim was eventually able to free herself and get out of the vehicle. The victim ran home where she reported what had happened to her husband and contacted law enforcement. The victim was transported by ambulance to the Adventist Health Ukiah Valley Emergency Room where she was treated for minor injuries and underwent a sexual assault forensic examination.

The victim was not familiar with the suspect, who had only identified himself as “Bruce,” and was described as a white male adult with red hair and a ginger beard. UPD detectives looked for security video or any witness that might have information that would assist with the investigation but were not able to develop any further investigative leads.

In late January, the results of the sexual forensic exam of the victim were returned from the California Department of Justice, and the report contained a DNA match from a swab taken from the victim’s body. The DNA was linked to a Bruce Edwards of Willits, who was confirmed to be a white male adult with red hair and a ginger beard.

UPD detectives launched an investigation into Edwards, and obtained a search warrant for his residence, his vehicle, his electronic devices, and a comparison DNA sample. On February 11, 2026, UPD detectives located and detained Edwards in Ukiah. During a search of Edwards’ cell phone pursuant to the warrant, detectives located numerous videos that appeared to be secret recordings of an unclothed young female. Edwards admitted to secretly video recording the minor for his own sexual gratification, who was the daughter of his adult roommate. Edwards also provided information on the sexual assault from Riverside Park, and was placed under arrest for sexual assault, sexual battery by force, sexual penetration with a foreign object, and unauthorized recording for sexual gratification.

The Ukiah Police Department expressed its gratitude to the California Department of Justice and the staff members of the Adventist Health Ukiah Emergency Room for their assistance with this investigation.