THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Tuesday, December 12, 1995 TAG: 9512120309
SECTION: LOCAL PAGE: B3 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY LARRY W. BROWN, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: NEWPORT NEWS LENGTH: Short : 45 lines
A 14-year-old girl who was attacked on her way to her bus stop Monday morning is the latest victim in what police believe is a series of assaults on juveniles in the city's East End.
For several years police and concerned residents have been looking for an attacker suspected of being linked to at least 20 such assaults.
A witness was able to drive away the attacker Monday.
Police spokesman Bobby Kipper said the attack occurred at 6:40 a.m. in the 1100 block of 25th St. near Orcutt Avenue. As the girl was walking west to her school bus stop, a man she had passed grabbed her from behind.
The adult who witnessed the assault ran to help the victim, Kipper said. The witness pushed the attacker, who ran away. The witness later called police.
Police searched local schools for the victim. After finding and interviewing her, she verified late Monday morning that the assault had occurred, Kipper said.
``Police believe this is related to the other 20 similar attacks that have occurred in the southeast community,'' Kipper said.
During the winter of 1990 and the spring of 1991, six young girls were attacked in a six-block area of the city's mostly black East End.
Two more girls were attacked in the fall of 1991. Other assaults, including several this year, have occurred intermittently.
The victims have ranged in age from 8 to 17 and have been assaulted going to and from school. None of the girls was raped, but some were fondled, police said.
Police are canvassing the area in search of the suspect, Kipper said.
He was described on Monday as a light-skinned black man 35 to 40 years old. He was 5 foot 8, weighed 135 to 140 pounds, had a mustache and was wearing a blue hat, dark blue jeans and a dark winter jacket.
Anyone with information is asked to call Crime Line at 245-0755.
KEYWORDS: ASSAULT CHILD MOLESTER by CNB