Tecumseh residents were on alert Sunday morning after two home invasions combined with the sexual assault of minors prompted a manhunt near 7th and Jefferson.
Subject in the home invasions/sexual assaults from Sunday morning has been booked into the Pottawatomie County Public Safety Center.
Tecumseh Police Chief JR Kidney said the suspect “called asking if he was in trouble.”
Kidney said Cliffton Davila was taken into custody yesterday evening on unrelated charges. He said both victims positively identified Davila in a photo lineup on Wednesday, Oct. 26.
Davila was returned to the PCPSC.
Chief Kidney said Davila is charged with two counts of burglary in the first degree, two counts of rape in the first degree, and two counts of assault and battery with a deadly weapon.
Kidney said, “At this time we will start the process of getting the DNA evidenced, everything that we need to get to labs and get tested and get some positive ID on this DNA evidence help in this case.”
“We’ve been in direct contact with our new District Attorney, Adam Panter, advising him of the situation and what we have,” said Kidney. “Tecumseh PD has had prior contact with Cliffton Davila and Cliffton meets the description 100 percent of what both of our victims said. And both victims were able to positively identify him this morning (Wednesday, Oct. 24) through a photo lineup.”
In an interview Monday, Oct. 24, Kidney said his office received a call around 2 am Sunday and another about 7 am. He said, “Two juvenile females basically reported that someone was knocking on their doors. They went to the door, and whenever they opened the door, the subject took them at knife point and sexually assaulted them.”
At 9:39 am, Sunday, Oct. 23, Kidney went live on Facebook to get information and description of a white male with red hair, a red beard, a black hoodie and jean out to the public. A message was also sent out through Blackboard Connect.
Kidney told the Countywide & Sun,
“We’ve probably had approximately 45-50 people saying someone has knocked on their door. It’s kind of widespread across town.
He said the Pottawattamie County Sheriff’s Office, and Citizen Potawatomi Nation Police Department assisted in the search. Pottawatomie County Emergency Management provided drone assistance.
Oklahoma District Court Records show Davila to have an active bench warrant issued Sept. 12, for failure to appear for pre-trial hearing regarding charges filed in 2021 for distribution of controlled dangerous substance near a park, school or minor under the age of twelve and manufacturing of controlled dangerous substance.
In a Facebook live video, Kidney said, “We have tried to share every bit of information that we can with you guys, but also to keep the integrity of the investigation intact and to keep the privacy of the two victims intact and to do everything in our power to bring this person into custody so the citizens of our town can feel safe.”
Kidney said Davila did not confess to the charges filed on Oct. 26.
Chief Kidney expressed his thanks to the community “for all the calls, all the Facebook messages, everything that has come in on this case. Detective Trey Baker has been working non-stop since Sunday morning when the calls came in. All of the officers have been working to track down every lead that you guys have provided us.”
He also thanked all his officers and especially Det. Baker for all their hard work in this case.
