The Fairfax County Police Department is searching for a man who grabbed or exposed himself to several women near the Washington and Old Dominion Trail over the last several weeks.
The most recent incident occurred Tuesday, Aug. 30, according to the Washington Post. The man tried to grab a teenager at the 1800 block of Old Reston Avenue in Reston, police said in a Tweet. They described the incident as an “attempted abduction” but the teen ultimately broke free and ran away.
Police connected the suspect to another incident that occurred east of the trail, between Town Center Parkway and the Fairfax County Parkway, the morning of Friday, Aug. 26. The man approached a woman from behind and then grabbed her around the waist. She broke free, police say, but she noticed while he fled the scene that the man wasn’t wearing pants. Herndon police are investigating whether an “assault and indecent exposure” incident on the trail later the same day is connected.
Sergeant Tara Gerhard with the Fairfax police told reporters Wednesday that detectives are looking back at previous cases to see if the man is connected. So far, Gerhard said they’ve connected him to three other incidents that occurred Aug. 3, 15, and 18. Police made the connection based in part on victims’ descriptions. She also said the man either grabbed or exposed himself to the victims, whom were all female and included some minors.
“These women did nothing wrong. They are victims of a crime,” Gerhard told reporters. She advised the public to tell someone where you are going if you go to Washington and Old Dominion Trail for a walk or exercise. She also said to make sure to take your phone with you and keep the music at a reasonable level if you are wearing headphones. Keep aware of your surroundings and call 911 if you witness a crime in progress, she advised.
Police are also calling on the public for any tips they may have. Anonymous tipsters could be awarded anywhere between $100 to $1,000 dollars. Call 703-691-2131 if you have any information.
Amanda Michelle Gomez