Crime & Safety
K9s Lead Police to Suspect in Sexual Assault, Allegedly Hiding in a Tent in the Woods
A man allegedly sexually assaulted a woman in the woods off of Lincoln Street in Worcester Thursday night. K9s tracked down the suspect.
WORCESTER, MA—Worcester police are working to accutately identify a man who was arrested for allegedly sexual assaulting a woman in woods, choking her close to unconsiousness.
On Thursday, July 7, at 10:39 p.m., Worcester police were called to the area of 104 Lincoln St. for what they were told was a possible pedestrian accident. Police quickly realized it was not an accident, but a sexual assault that had recently occurred.
Police on scene spoke with the victim as well as several witnesses.
The 25-year-old female victim told police that she had been walking in a wooded area off of Lincoln Street when she was accosted by a man who made sexual advances toward her. When she refused, the man, she said, attacked her and sexually assaulted her. The suspect also choked the female victim until she was close to losing consciousness, said police. During the assault, the victim was able to break free and flee on foot, running into the middle of Lincoln Street where she was discovered by witnesses who then called the police.
The victim, who had visible injuries to her face, neck and body, gave police a description and the direction that he had gone. She was transported to a local hospital, and police spoke with the witnesses. They said that the woman ran into the middle of Lincoln Street with the suspect chasing her, the suspect taking off just prior to the police arriving, running off into a wooded area.
K9 Officer Tom Bishop along with his K9 Elmar were requested to the scene, and tracked the suspect. The track led police to the wooded area off Lincoln Street, where they found a makeshift tent. Officers found a man hiding in the tent. Based on the description, they developed probable cause to arrest him.
At this time, police are still working to obtain an accurate name and date of birth on the individual who was arrested. Once this is accomplished, his name will be released. At this time, the male is being charged with two counts of Indecent Assault and Battery on Person over 14, Kidnapping, and Strangulation.
