The Portland Police Department is looking for help finding a suspect who assaulted three women, and robbed two, in the city’s West End.
He’s described as a white male who’s about 30 years old, between 5 feet, 7 inches and 6 feet tall, long blonde hair, heavy, with two or more lower lip piercings and wearing a baseball hat and glasses.
The assaults took place between April 20 and May 27. In all three cases, the man approached a lone woman from behind in the evening or late evening. In one case, he stole money from inside a woman’s bra, and in another case, he stole the bra. In two of the cases, he grabbed the woman by the neck.
Assistant Police Chief Vern Malloch says an April 30 attack was reported at that time, but the department only recently connected it with two other assaults.
“When we received the second report which was on the 24th, and we recognized a similar description, we tasked investigators with going out and trying to identify this person by talking with people in that neighborhood,” he says. “That’s when over the weekend we identified yet a third victim who hadn’t reported her crime.”
It’s thought the man may live in or frequent the area. Police are asking women there to take precautions when out at night, and for anyone with information to contact them.
“Try never to walk alone, try to stay to well-lighted areas, try to keep the distance as short as possible that you’re walking, have your cellphone in your hand or be talking with someone on your phone, especially if you’re going to be alone,” Malloch says. “Be ready to call 911. Make sure that you know to either run or fight or scream to try to defend yourself.”
