Sex Assault Suspect Returns to Scene: Police

One victim was assaulted in checkout line at the Safeway. A second victim was nearly raped in the grocery store’s parking garage and suffered a broken finger in the assault.

After a third assault attempt around the corner from the store at 11201 Georgia Avenue, undercover officers began conducting surveillance in the area, and their suspect returned to the scene just a day later, according to Montgomery County Police.

William Brown Jr., age 21, of Ferrara Drive in Wheaton, faces sex assault charges, including two charges of attempted rape. He is being held on a $100,000 bond.

Detectives believe that there may be additional victims. Anyone who has information regarding a sexual offense involving William Brown. Jr. is asked to contact the Montgomery County Police-Special Victims Investigations Division at 240-773-5050.

Returning to the Scene

A physical description from the victims and surveillance videos helped detectives begin their search. On Feb. 11, detectives with the Special Victims Investigations Division spotted a man matching the suspect’s description.

Brown allegedly told police during interviews that he was the person seen in the surveillance videos and that he “bumped” into the victim in the parking garage.

On Feb. 4, a 33-year-old woman was in the checkout line at the Safeway at 11201 Georgia Avenue when a man approached her and began touching her inappropriately. When the victim resisted, the suspect fled.

The next morning, a 30-year-old woman was putting groceries in her car in the garage of the Safeway when Brown allegedly approached her and began touching her. He tried to push her into the car, according to police, but the victim struggled and Brown fled when another person entered the parking area.

On Feb. 10, a 22-year-old woman was walking on the sidewalk near the Mid-County Regional Services center, on Reedie Drive, around the corner from the Safeway. Brown reportedly approached her from behind and touched her inappropriately before attempting to pull down her pants. She broke free and he fled the area, again.