Accused rapist arrested after 22 years thanks to his DNA (police)

(KRON) – Eric Ferguson was arrested for a sexual assault in 2002, according to the Oakley Police Department.

Oakley PD received a notification from the Combine DNA Index System (CODIS) regarding a possible DNA match from a 2002 kidnapping and sexual assault of a minor in early May. The department then coordinated with the U.S. Marshals Service and a detective from the Coeur d'Alene Police Department.

The suspect was identified as Eric Ferguson, 49, who was currently residing in Rathdrum, Idaho. Ferguson formerly lived in eastern Contra Costa County at the time of the rape.

On May 12, Oakley detectives, along with the United States Marshals Service, the Coeur d'Alene Police Department and the Kootenai County Sheriff's Office, traveled to Idaho to serve a search warrant for collecting DNA from Ferguson for the case.

Oakley PD detectives returned to the Bay Area to have the Contra Costa Sheriff's Office lab compare samples from the search warrant and the original case file. According to Oakley PD, Ferguson's DNA directly matched DNA collected in 2002.

A judge signed a formal complaint filed against Ferguson on May 16. The same day, the agencies involved used their SWAT team to apprehend Ferguson.

Ferguson was arrested and booked into the Contra Costa County Jail on charges of rape of an incompetent person, forcible oral copulation, and kidnapping for rape.