THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Wednesday, October 11, 1995 TAG: 9510110505
SECTION: LOCAL PAGE: B3 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: STAFF REPORT
DATELINE: NEWPORT NEWS LENGTH: Short : 35 lines
A 15-year-old girl on her way to school was grabbed by a stranger Tuesday morning. She broke free, police said, and wasn't hurt.
Detectives suspect the assault in the 1100 block of 29th Street may be related to 19 similar attacks on school-age girls at or near bus stops in the Southeast community since 1990. The last of those assaults had been in September.
Despite increased patrols, police have not identified a suspect in those attacks or in the Tuesday assault.
Police spokeswoman Patricia Mahaffy said this is what happened:
Shortly after 6:30 a.m., the girl, who was not identified, was approached by a man. As the man walked past her, he turned and grabbed the girl and tried to put his hand over her mouth. She screamed, and the man ran toward Roanoke Avenue.
Police dogs and a Virginia Beach police helicopter crew tried unsuccessfully to track the suspect.
The suspect was described as a thin, dark-skinned black man in his mid-20s, about 5-foot-7. He was last seen wearing a black jacket, black pants and a dark baseball cap.
Anyone with information about Tuesday's assault or the earlier attacks is asked to call police at 247-8661 or 245-0755.
KEYWORDS: ASSAULT ESCAPE by CNB