U.S. Postal Inspectors say a gunman jumped into a Postal Service truck and forced the driver to a remote area of Taft in October. The postal worker was driving a white 5-ton box truck, filled with mail.
Tuesday morning, U.S. Postal Inspectors released a sketch of the suspect and announced a $50,000 reward leading to the arrest and conviction of the lone suspect.
"He hijacked the postal truck and took it to another location," said Inspector Renee Focht. "So the individual also faces kidnapping charges."
On October 16 at 5:25 p.m., the suspect jumped into the Postal Service truck at the intersection on E. Kern Street and Taft Highway. He was armed with a semi-automatic handgun.
The suspect forced the driver to make a right turn from the left-hand turn lane and drive south on Taft Highway, to an abandoned hospital less than a mile away.
This makes residents wonder if the man knew about the hospital's vacant status.
"Not everybody would know where that was at, see?" said longtime resident Wyamn Hunt. "And then, he had his guy waiting for him to pick him up."
Investigators say another man showed up with a getaway car. Investigators say before the armed robber jumped into the getaway car, he took several canvas sacks full of mail.
Residents are in shock.
"I can't believe it," said Pam Steelman. "Why would they do that? It's mail. People have to get their maill."
Sharon Hunt says news of the robbery brings tears to her eyes. "We have friends that work for the post office," Hunt said. "It is scary. It's very scary."
The robbery suspect is described as a Hispanic man, about 20 years old, 5'11" and 165 pounds. He has short black hair, a goatee and a thin mustache.
If you have any information, contact the U.S. Postal Inspectors at 877-876-2455.
Wyman Hunt hopes the $50,000 reward will help catch the suspect.
"That's scary because that could happen to anybody, anytime," he said, shaking his head. "But a small town like this?"
An armed robbery of a postal service worker is a federal crime and a first time offender could face up to 25 years in federal prison.
