Predator on the Loose? More Assaults Reported in Arlington

Two more assaults on women took place over the weekend in Arlington. And an Arlington County police spokesman say the attacks may be connected, according to a report by ARLnow.com.

In the first reported incident Saturday, July 24, a woman fought off an attacker in the 1900 block of 15th Street N, according to Arlington County Police.

Over the weekend, two more incidents were reported:

• On Saturday night, at about 11:26 p.m. in the 4300 block of N. Pershing Drive, a 25 year-old female victim was grabbed from behind and pushed to the ground while she was walking home, police said. A man touched the victim inappropriately, causing her to bite one of his hands before he fled. The suspect is described as a Hispanic male, between 5’0”-5’3” tall, with black hair and a mustache. He was wearing a gray t-shirt and jeans at the time of the incident.
• On Friday night, at about 8:45 p.m., in the 300 block of S. Harrison Street, a woman was running on the Washington and Old Dominion trail, when a man approached her from behind and threw her to the ground. The suspect is described as a Hispanic male in his twenties, approximately 5’6” tall and 140 lbs. He was wearing long gray shorts, a belt, and no shirt at the time of the incident. The victim was able to scream, causing the suspect to flee.

The locations are within a five-mile radius of each other.

The Arlington County Police Department’s Special Victims Unit is asking for the public’s assistance in identifying and locating the suspect or suspects.

If anyone has information on the identity of this individual or details surrounding this incident, please contact Detective Robert Icolari of the Arlington County Police Department’s Special Victim’s Unit at 703.228.4240 or atricolari@arlingtonva.us. To report information anonymously, contact the Arlington County Crime Solvers at 866.411.TIPS (8477).

IMAGE: Rendering of suspect courtesy of Arlington County Police