Highland Park Sex Assault Sunday; Attacker At Large

HIGHLAND PARK, NJ - Authorities in Highland Park are searching for a suspect who severely beat and sexually assaulted a borough woman at gunpoint Sunday evening.

The 36-year-old woman was taken to Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital in New Brunswick, where she is listed in stable condition, said Middlesex County Prosecutor Andrew Carey and Chief Stephen Rizco of the Highland Park Police Department.

Authorities were alerted to the attack on Sunday, Feb. 19 at 5:30 p.m. when a resident of Harper Street called police after the victim ran to the neighbor’s home following the attack.

During the investigation it was determined that the victim was walking on Harper Street when the suspect approached her at gunpoint, forced her into the basement of a nearby apartment building, and repeatedly punched her before sexually assaulting her and fleeing.

The suspect is described as a black male in his early to mid-20s, five-feet, seven-inches tall with a medium build and short hair. He was wearing a red T-shirt, black jacket and grey sweatpants.

The investigation is active and is continuing. Anyone with information is asked to call Detective McGraw of the Highland Park Police Department at (723) 572-3800, or Detective Bitterman of the Middlesex County Prosecutor’s Office at (732) 745-4401.

The assault is being investigated by Detective Sean McGraw of the Highland Park Police Department and Detective Allie Bitterman of the Middlesex County Prosecutor’s Office.