WASHINGTON — A rash of sexual assaults continued in Arlington County last weekend, when a 23-year-old woman was attacked, marking the ninth such incident in recent months.
“The community is concerned,” says Arlington County police spokesman Dustin Sternbeck. “Suspects are using the cover of the night as a way to approach and ultimately assault these females.”
In the latest attack, the victim was walking home around 2:30 a.m. Saturday in Rosslyn. A man approached her from behind, claimed he had a knife and touched her inappropriately, police say. All nine attacks involve a woman walking alone late at night.
The assaults began in late July. None of the women has been able to get a good look at her attacker.
“In each of the cases, victims have been able to fight off the suspect or scream out for help, which causes the suspect to flee on foot,” Sternbeck says.
Investigators are trying to determine whether there is a link between any of the incidents.
“At this point we’re not ready to rule out whether they’re all related or not related,” says Sternbeck.
