Thursday, November 15, 2007

18-Year-Old Sexually Assaulted In Fairfax Co.

FAIRFAX COUNTY, Va. -- At least one, possibly two, sexual predators were on the loose in Fairfax County on Wednesday night, police said. Wednesday morning, a man wearing a ski mask attacked a woman. On Wednesday night, police said the same man may have carried out several more attacks across Northern Virginia. The second sexual assault was in the Springfield area and was similar to a recent attack in Alexandria.

An 18-year-old woman said she was assaulted while walking on Industrial Road at about 5:45 a.m. The Springfield-area victim was approached from behind by a man. She said he forced her off the road and into a remote area, where he sexually assaulted her. She described the man as between 5 feet 7 inches and 5 feet 10 inches tall with an average build. She said he was wearing a black ski mask, a black, nylon, waist-length jacket and blue jeans. The case is under investigation. Area police offered safety tips to keep in mind, especially during the predawn hours:

Be aware of your surroundings
Avoid walking alone
Travel routes that are heavily used and well lit

Anyone with information should call Crime Solvers at 1-866-411-TIPS or Fairfax County Police at 703-691-2131.