ANN ARBOR (WWJ) – Ann Arbor police have released a sketch of the suspect in a pair of sexual assaults near the University of Michigan North Campus late last month.
Officials say two young women were sexually assaulted around 4:30 p.m. on Sunday, Feb. 26. Both assaults were just west of the campus, about a mile and a half apart.
More than a week later, police are still investigating and are hoping a sketch of the suspect can help detectives make a break in the case.
Authorities are asking anyone who recognizes the sketch or may have been in the area at the time of the assaults to call Ann Arbor police.
Police officials got a call around 4:30 p.m. on Feb. 26 from a 22-year-old woman who said she was walking to the bus stop in the area of Lake Lila Drive near Plymouth Road when someone in a white or silver four-door sedan drove past her, stopped and then backed up.
A man then got out of the car and tried to grab her. The victim told authorities he groped her and tried to pull her towards his vehicle before she was able to push him away and break free.
The woman was not injured and didn’t see which direction the suspect fled. She described the suspect as about 20-30 years old, with a full dark beard, approximately 5-foot-7 and a medium build, wearing dark clothes.
Police received another report of indecent exposure the following morning. A 25-year-old woman reported it happened in the area of Nielsen Court and Maiden Lane at about 4:25 p.m. that Sunday – about a mile and a half from the other reported assault.
The victim said she was walking south on Nielsen when someone in a four-door sedan pulled up next to her and stopped. He then got out and proceeded to block her path on the sidewalk.
The woman told police the suspect groped her then pulled down his pants, exposing himself and touching himself. She ran away and was not injured. The suspect is described as a male with short, curly hair.
Related
Ann Arbor police officials said last week they were investigating both incidents and working to determine whether they are related.
Authorities did not say whether the victims are students at the University of Michigan or if the alleged assaults are believed to be connected to the school.
Anyone who knows something about the alleged sexual assaults should call the Ann Arbor Police Department at 734-794-6920 or email Detective Quinn at jquinn@a2gov.org or Detective Marshall at gmarshall@a2gov.org.