Mar 19, 2008 5:56 pm US/Eastern
Cops Hunt Suspect In West New York Sex Assaults
WEST NEW YORK, N.J. (CBS) ―
Police in Hudson County, New Jersey are searching for a suspect in a string of frightening sex assaults. The attacks allegedly took place in the city of West New York. Neighbors of this otherwise quiet area are shocked by what is occurring in their community. Striking in the darkness of the early morning hours, an armed man carrying a semi-automatic is preying on women.
"For me it is a real surprise," said neighbor Janet Alvarez.
"There are a lot of families around here, there's not a lot happening around here. I am surprised to hear something like this is going on around here," said Mike Preen.
CBS 2 spoke with some residents who hadn't heard about the man who allegedly attacked two women on Saturday, March 19. The attacks, according to police, occurred within two blocks from each other.
At around 3 a.m., the man confronted a 53-year-old woman on 52nd and Hudson. Luckily, cops said, she was able to slam her building's door on him and managed to escape unharmed. Authorities believe the assailant proceeded to 53rd street, where only an hour later he made a woman get back into her car and perform a sexual act on him. He then robbed her.
Investigators also believe it might be the same man that attacked another woman two weeks earlier on March 5 as she worked alone in a business on Palisade Avenue.
"It happens all over but I didn't know it happened in this area. Really, it makes me very afraid," said Alexandra Montalvan.
Police describe the suspect as a white male, 18 to 20 years old, 5-feet-10 to 6-feet tall, no facial hair, and having dark hair and dark eyes.
(© MMIX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)
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