Hanover Man Arrested For Repeated Rape Attempts: Police

HANOVER, MD — A 25-year-old Hanover man has been arrested and charged with attempted rape and assault that authorities say happened in separate incidents Sunday in Salisbury. According to the Salisbury Police Department, Jonathan Kelechi Mbagwu took off after the final assault, but officers were able to stop him.

After questioning Mbagwu, officers learned there were several incidents that had occurred involving him. A 21-year-old woman encountered Mbagwu along South Salisbury Boulevard Oct. 27 when he approached her and placed his hand in the victim's back pants pocket and tried speaking with her. Alarmed, she stopped, but Mbagwu continued walking. The woman then ran into Mbagwu a second time further down the road. He began walking quickly toward her and, according to a police report, she feared for her safety and ran. Mbagwu tackled the woman, but a passerby intervened before Mbagwu could cause further harm.

Later that evening, Mbagwu approached three 18-year-olds walking not far from the second attack and tried talking to them, according to a police report. He snatched personal property from one of the women and refused to return it. He then slapped one of the women on the buttocks, grabbed her and began to grope her, police said. The other two young women called 911. Mbagwu took off, but police were able to stop him.

Mbagwu has been charged with attempted first-degree rape, attempted second-degree rape, third-degree sex offense, two counts of sex offense fourth-degree, first-degree assault, two counts of second-degree assault, failure to obey and disorderly conduct.

The Salisbury Police Department requests that anyone with information regarding these incidents contact Crime Solvers of the Lower Eastern Shore at (410) 548-1776 or the Salisbury Police Department Criminal Investigation Division at (410) 548-3165.