Full Notification

On Friday (12/27), around 3PM, a teenage victim contacted Novato Police and reported that she had been sexually assaulted. Officers determined the incident occurred earlier that morning in a parked vehicle. The suspect had previously portrayed himself as a 15-year-old on social media in the weeks leading up to the assault.   
 
During the investigation, NPD Officers received information pertaining to the suspect's whereabouts and found the vehicle involved. Once the suspect noticed officers, he fled in his vehicle and was not immediately located. A notice was broadcasted to all Marin County law enforcement agencies with description information, and within 15 minutes, a Marin County Sheriff Deputy spotted the suspect vehicle traveling south on Highway 101 near Lucas Valley Rd. A traffic stop was initiated and the driver stopped in San Rafael as NPD Officers responded. 
 
The suspect was identified as Omar Shirkhan, a 20-year-old Fremont resident. Shirkhan was taken into custody without further incident and transported to the Novato Police Department for additional questioning. He was later booked into the Marin County Jail for charges including, rape of a drugged victim, unlawful, sexual intercourse with a minor, arranging to meet with a minor to commit a sex offense, driving on a suspected license for DUI, and obstructing a police officer. Shirkhan is currently being held on $500,000 bail.  
 
The Novato Police Department investigates sexual assaults crimes, especially those against children, to the fullest extent. We would like to thank the Marin County Sheriff’s Office for their assistance with this case. We also thank the victim in this case for their bravery, assistance, and cooperation. Victims of sexual assault are encouraged to speak with an officer and file a police report to help reduce these types of crimes in our community.
 
Our School Resource Officer is available to assist with incidents relating to our school-aged community. Parents are encouraged to participate in the Vigilant Parent Initiative Program is offered through the Novato Police Department to educate parents on how to keep children safe from online predators. To request a presentation, please call 415-897-4361 or email [email protected]. For more information, visit: svicac.org/vigilant-parent-initiative

Additional Victim Resources:
NCMEC NetSmartz  https://www.missingkids.org/netsmartz/home
Community Violence Solutions: cvsolutions.org/