Brick Man Assaulted Woman Behind Church, Stole Her Phone: Prosecutor

BRIDGEWATER, NJ — A Brick Township man is accused of trying to sexually assault a woman and robbing her behind a church in Somerset County in July, authorities announced Thursday.

Elias Rodriguez, 45, of Brick was arrested Wednesday, Oct. 18, in Jackson Township, the Somerset County Prosecutor's Office said.

Rodriguez is accused of attacking the woman behind Blessed Sacrament Church in Bridgewater shortly before 10 a.m. on Sunday, July 9, the prosecutor's office said.

The woman, a Bridgewater resident, told police she was walking on a path behind the church when a man she did not know came up behind her and put his hands over her eyes and mouth, authorities said.

The woman began to struggle and she and the man fell to the ground, she told police. At that point the suspect grabbed her cell phone and took off, she said. The woman chased the man and saw him get into a dark-colored SUV and leave the area, authorities said. Read more: Man Robbed, Assaulted Woman Behind Bridgewater Church: Prosecutor

Investigators with the Somerset County prosecutor's office and Bridgewater Police Department identified Rodriguez as the suspect and arrested him Wednesday, authorities said.

He faces second-degree charges of robbery, attempted aggravated sexual assault, and attempted sexual assault, authorities said.

He is being held in the Somerset County jail pending a detention hearing.

Anyone with additional information relating to the assault is asked to contact the Somerset County Prosecutors Office Sex Crimes Unit at 908-231-7100 or the Bridgewater Township Police Department at 908-722-4111 or via the STOPit app.

Information can also be provided through the Somerset County Crime Stoppers’ Tip Line at 1-888-577-TIPS (8477). All anonymous STOPit reports, and Crime Stopper tips will be kept confidential.

With reporting by Michelle Rotuno-Johnson, Patch