Lawrence Police are looking for the man seen in this screen grab from security footage. Investigators say the man is a suspect in the sexual assault of a woman in the 700 block of Massachusetts in the early hours of Thursday, July 29.
Lawrence Police are looking for the man seen in this screen grab from security footage. Investigators say the man is a suspect in the sexual assault of a woman in the 700 block of Massachusetts in the early hours of Thursday, July 29.
Police searching for suspect in sexual assault
According to the victim, the man came up behind her, grabbed her and assaulted her early Thursday morning. Enlarge video
Lawrence police are investigating the city’s latest sexual assault. According to authorities, an unknown man approached two women walking in the 700 block of Massachusetts Street early Thursday morning. One of the two women told police that the man came from behind, put his arm around her and sexually assaulted her.
Police said the attack on the 23-year-old victim happened quickly, and then the man fled the area. He reportedly ran through the east alley of the 800 block of Massachusetts Street, toward Ninth Street, then disappeared around the corner of a building into the city parking garage that faces New Hampshire Street.
The police department released several still images from a security camera, showing the man running through the alley. Authorities said the man shown was positively identified as the attacker. If arrested, he will be booked in jail on a charge of rape.
The same security camera used in this case has helped police in other incidents. In April, the privately owned and operated camera captured video of several people spray painting graffiti in the alley. The security camera belongs to the law office of Riling, Burkhead and Nitcher. Recently, the camera captured video of more vandals.
Police hope the released images will help them solve these downtown Lawrence crimes. Anyone with information should call detectives at 830-7430.
Comments
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kernal (anonymous) says…
Might be helpful if the photo could be enlarged. Clicked on "enlarge photo" and response was "page not found".
LeBo (anonymous) says…
Note: The police are looking for a man.
If he were black it would state black male. In accordance with the constitutional premise that a black male is 3/5 of a man. Thus, I am just happy it was a drunken wht. male approx 5'10" to 6'0. Weighing over 285 lbs.
In Lawrence, the police promulgated a false sense of safety. These things happen every weekend. "It was a fairly brazen act that we don’t typically see,” Monroe said. This is no way to solve a crime by belittling the prevalence?
Criminal justice fact only 1 in 8 sex crimes are reported.
What is wrong, to busy writing traffic tickets for the city coffers again to enforce the laws on white males again.
bergerfry (anonymous) replies…
Slightly bitter about race?
calwt262 (anonymous) says…
The suspect appears to sporting b-cup moobs and a hyper-color t-shirt. Not to mention, his pants almost look pink. I suggest police canvas the county fair this weekend and stake out the fried twinky booth for carnies that fit the description.
LoveThsLife (anonymous) replies…
Fitting description
jehovah_bob (anonymous) replies…
I'd like to file a report that this guy also stole my hyper-color t-shirt.
DillonBarnes (anonymous) says…
But did he spray graffiti in the alley?
thebigspoon (anonymous) says…
Tasteless, ed, totally tasteless and crude. Really shows your sensitivity.
Jane (anonymous) replies…
ed is equally crude and tasteless on the sexual assault article.
jackbinkelman (anonymous) says…
Or perhaps he was parked in the new hampshire side lots...
woodscolt (anonymous) says…
great photo! narrows it down to about anybody
This comment was removed by the site staff for violation of the usage agreement.
50YearResident (anonymous) says…
I think it's either the Pillsbury Dough Boy or the Michilin tire guy! It has to be one of those two!
woodscolt (anonymous) says…
I'm telling you it is swan diver. Call tips hotline and maybe ljw will split the reward with you.
The_Big_B (anonymous) says…
Looks kinda like a certain Former Mayor ...
calwt262 (anonymous) replies…
I thought he was devoting his life to Christ
SofaKing (anonymous) says…
It's a guy with man b00bs.
riverdrifter (anonymous) says…
Time to upgrade those cameras in that alley.
I'd say Reconyx RC60HO. You could read their tats with that one.
Pywacket (anonymous) says…
In light of the recent assault of the female bicyclist, this is very disturbing. The suspect in that case had similarly assaulted (groped) women before going berserk and attempting to rape/kill the bicyclist.
Similarly, this creepazoid could be working up to something much worse. Hope someone recognizes and reports him soon. If he is charged and known to police, perhaps the loss of his anonymity will make him think twice about committing further assaults.
dulcinea47 (anonymous) says…
It would be super helpful if the picture actually got bigger when you click "enlarge photo"!
somedude20 (anonymous) says…
the guy looks like the homeless dude who is chubby, has red hair (but is going bald he has that friar thing going hair on the side bald up top) and wears weird colored shirts (like birght purple or pink). I see him walking around all the time; he was sitting outside at that christian book store Mon or Tues talking to himself but he was staring at the young girls that walked by. Dude gave me the creeps as it looked like he was wiping away slobber as he looked them. He is a tall big dude reminds me of a baby huey
CaptainCholesterol (anonymous) says…
Could it be Mangino after a severe crash diet?
Kontum1972 (anonymous) says…
or a running pepto bismol bottle
i thought most of the women would carry mace..if not they should be now!
autie (anonymous) says…
at first galance I thought it was Terry from Reno 911...was he wearing roller skates?
Pywacket (anonymous) replies…
Terry's way cuter. Besides, he wouldn't be assaulting women!
lgreen17 (Laura Green) says…
This is a picture of a screen with a picture. Surely, they could release a better picture, no?
LetsMakeLawrenceBetter (Andrea Hoag) says…
I'm wondering what sorts of police foot patrols are planned for late nights around downtown. It could be there isn't the budget for such things. Carrying mace may be a good idea, but given the "hit-and-run" nature of the incident, perhaps the victim wouldn't have had time to use that on this assailant. Another idea would be for anyone who feels vulnerable to carry those ear-splittingly loud whistles used by mail carriers. Wal-mart and other big box stores also carry what looks like a spray bottle with a big siren on it (kind of clunky, actually) that could be squeezed to create a very loud "alert" noise. Kudos to this young woman for reporting the crime. I hope she recovers soon from the scare.
LetsMakeLawrenceBetter (Andrea Hoag) says…
Here is a link to the kind of alert whistle I mentioned in my post above. http://tinyurl.com/howlerwhistle
KEITHMILES05 (anonymous) says…
What does it mean when the article says the attack went quickly?
ksjayhawk74 (anonymous) replies…
I'm guessing her walked up behind her, grabbed her chest and kept waking. Like that was OK or funny or something.
Pywacket (anonymous) says…
The article is rather confusing. I believe the comment about "will be charged with rape" was added today and adds to the confusion.
There were two women.... the guy runs up and puts his arms around one of them, assaults, and runs away.... That (unless I'm mistaken) was the gist of yesterday's account and it made me assume that the assault consisted of grabbing or groping--which is bad enough.
But now, he will be charged with rape if caught? That raises a lot of questions. How could that have happened so fast? Presumably, she would have been fighting, screaming, the friend would have been running for help and/or phoning 911...
Was this an actual rape or an attempted rape? Did he have a weapon or threaten to use one? Sorry to pick nits, but this jerk is still out there. And, yes, can't you post a blown-up shot that we can look at w/o the video arrow in the middle of it?
autie (anonymous) replies…
all hail the goat queen!!
Pywacket (anonymous) replies…
HA! I didn't know nothin' 'bout no goat queen til I read your comment here and retraced some steps. Too funny!
EB1719 (anonymous) replies…
I hope this clarifies any confusion-
The young woman was wearing a skirt, and no mere chest grope would warrant a rape charge. The assault happened quickly, but in 5 seconds someone can be violated pretty severely. Rape usually implies penetration, but not necessarily with the attacker's genitals.
Also, for those making jokes, please be aware that this is a local woman. The victim, her friends, and family can see your comments. I only ask people use the tact they would want others to use if this happened to them, a sister, daughter, or friend.
greenworld (anonymous) says…
Well its not Simon Gilmore I can guarantee you that.
50YearResident (anonymous) says…
After reading how quick it happened, I now think it was the........"Easter Bunney"!
slang4d (anonymous) says…
Gross. I hope they find this creep and send him straight to jail. I think it would be lovely to take a stroll at any hour without worrying about things like this. Unfortunately jerks like this are running around and the LPD does not keep a very watchful eye on downtown despite being located there.
bearded_gnome (anonymous) says…
Hey!
I just had a brainwave, and why didn't somebody at lpd/ljw think of this?
if they're pulling this pic out of video. doesn't this video exist in a digital medium?
why can't they get at the original file to get more details? or is the video on 5 1/4 inche floppy and nobody has a disk drive anymore?
if rape is being charged I fear that it wasn't just cop-a-feel.
I hope the young woman has gone for help and support from our local rape victim survival services. they are good and they will help her.
This comment was removed by the site staff for violation of the usage agreement.
dogsandcats (anonymous) says…
There are LPD foot patrols downtown but they are too busy watching people to make sure their toe doesn't cross over the line of where the outdoor patio ends while drinking an alcoholic beverage, and if it does, they can write them a fat ticket. Maybe they should reconsider their priorities.
If the guy ran the alley from 800 to 900 block of Mass, maybe someone outside at Henry's or the Pig saw him?