ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times
DATE: Thursday, June 20, 1996 TAG: 9606200063
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: C-1 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: DIANE STRUZZI STAFF WRITER
MEMO: ***CORRECTION***
Published correction ran on June 21, 1996.
The description of a suspect involved in one of six attacks on women
in Southwest Roanoke was attributed to the wrong victim in Thursday's
newspaper. A woman attacked in her apartment in the 100 block of
Albemarle Avenue early Tuesday described her assailant as a black man
with short dredlocks, wearing a red T-shirt.
Roanoke police are investigating six attacks against women in Southwest Roanoke, including four incidents that occurred within the past week. Detectives would not say if they believe the same suspect is involved.
The most recent incidents occurred Tuesday and Wednesday, nearly 24 hours apart. About 2:40 a.m. Tuesday, a man broke into a woman's apartment in the 100 block of Albemarle Avenue, attacked her in bed and fled when she began to scream. The woman was not seriously injured.
About 2:35 a.m. Wednesday, a man tried to get into a woman's first-floor bedroom in the 1300 block (between Walnut and Woods) of Second Street. The man fled when the woman got up to call police. The man took a wooden stool from the trash to gain access to the window, police said.
About 2:40 a.m. Tuesday, a man broke into a woman's apartment in the 100 block of Albemarle Avenue, attacked her in bed and fled when she began to scream. The woman was not seriously injured. (moved this graph up to make events chronological--sw0
Police said the woman described her assailant as a black man with short dredlocks, wearing a red T-shirt.
"We are asking that women be alert to their surroundings," said Lt. William Beason Jr. "If they feel threatened or see someone suspicious, please call 911."
Police said the man in Tuesday's incident apparently got into the woman's apartment by cutting a window screen and slipping the lock. The man did not say anything during the attack, and larceny did not appear to be the motive.
In two separate incidents Friday, women in the 100 block of Elm Avenue were attacked by a man near their apartments.
At 8:10 a.m., a 48-year-old woman was grabbed from behind as she left her apartment to go to work. Police said the woman told them the man held an object to her throat, possibly a knife, and then tried to force her back into her apartment. The woman screamed and the man fled.
Then, at 3:42 p.m., a 36-year-old woman was entering her apartment building when she saw a man at the top of the stairs. The man approached her and placed a knife to her back. The woman screamed, and the man fled into a nearby apartment. Police said that residence had recently been burglarized.
Police are also looking at two other attacks that occurred in March.
About 4:50 a.m. March 4, a 23-year old woman delivering The Roanoke Times in the 100 block of Elm Avenue was attacked by a man with a hammer. Police said the woman was hit in the head as she walked by the man.
At 12:45 p.m. March 31, a 17-year-old girl was raped at knifepoint in a Southwest Roanoke apartment house. Police said the lights went out in the girl's apartment. As she walked to the basement to check out the problem, a man grabbed her from behind, placed a knife to her throat and forced her back into her apartment, where he raped her.
Police later discovered that the man broke a basement window to enter the building.
Police are asking anyone with information about these incidents to call them at 981-2571.
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