Police arrest suspect in sex assault of woman, 86

WASHINGTON — Police in Howard County arrested a Columbia man in connection with the sexual assault of an 86-year-old woman.

Howard County police charged Michael Lawrence Pinkney, 54, with eight counts of sex offenses, assault and kidnapping.

The victim, police say, accepted a ride from Pinkney Sunday after while waiting for a bus on Cradlerock Way in Columbia. The two did not know each other.

After she got into his black BMW convertible and started giving directions, police say Pinkney turned into a parking lot of a vacant business complex in the 10600 block of Little Patuxent Parkway.

The woman said she was asaaulted in the woods for nearly two hours.

After the attack, the woman managed to get help from a customer at a nearby gas station who called 911. She was treated and released from Howard County General Hospital.

Police say they made the arrest after reviewing surveillance video in the area.

Pinkney’s car, which matched the victim’s description, was seen driving in the area with a driver and a passenger. Two hours later, it was seen leaving the area with only a driver.

Pinkney is being held without bond in the Howard County Detention Center.

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