Metro links two violent attacks in northwest valley to single suspect

Thu, Apr 26, 2012 (5:57 p.m.)

Metro Police look for suspect in northwest attacks

KSNV coverage of Metro Police searching for a man suspected of brutally assaulting two women in the northwest valley, April 26, 2012.

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Metro Police are seeking a man they believe committed two violent crimes--a sexual assault and a battery--that occurred in the northwest valley about a week apart. Police say the man left behind a baseball cap during the first incident, April 26, 2012.

Area of April 15 attack

Metro Police are asking the public’s assistance in finding a man they believe committed two violent crimes — a sexual assault and a battery — that occurred about a week apart in the northwest valley.

Around 2 a.m. April 15, a 50-year-old woman who walking home was sexually assaulted near the intersection of Vegas and Tonopah drives, said Lt. Rob Lundquist of Metro's crimes against youth and family bureau.

“He eventually runs behind her and chases her, grabs her and physically pulls her into the desert area” before sexually assaulting her, Lundquist said during a Thursday afternoon media conference.

During the attack the suspect left behind a black-and-red Cleveland Indians baseball cap, Lundquist said.

Lundquist said on the evening of April 23 a woman in her 30s walking in the area of Bonanza Road and Rancho Drive was struck in the head with an object and her attacker attempted to pull her into the desert.

The woman was able to fight off the man and escape, Lundquist said.

“She was able to react immediately and she did an incredible job,” Lundquist said.

“This (April 23) case is very similar, however this case was not a sexual assault,” Lundquist said. “This was a physical assault, but we do believe it had the potential to become a sexual assault.”

The April 23 evening attack occurred about a mile away from the April 15 incident, Lundquist said. The proximity of the crimes and descriptions given by the victims lead police to believe they are searching for one suspect.

The suspect is described as a black male in his late teens or early 20s, standing between 5-feet-5 to 5-feet-8, said Lundquist, adding that the man weights about 130 to 150 pounds.

Anyone with information can contact Metro’s sexual assault section at 828-3307 or Crime Stoppers at 385-5555 to remain anonymous.

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