Suspect accused of sexually assaulting woman at knifepoint in her Reston apartment, arrested
Suspect arrested in armed sexual assault case
Fairfax County police have arrested a man they believe sexually assaulted a woman at knifepoint. The victim was sleeping at home at the time. FOX 5’s Lindsay Watts reports from Reston with reactions from neighbors.
RESTON, Go. – Fairfax County police say they have made an arrest in a sexual assault case less than 24 hours after investigators said a woman woke up to a man with a knife in her home.
Police said the attack happened around 11.50pm on Sunday in the 2200 block of Lovedale Lane near South Lakes Drive.
The woman said she woke up to a man wearing a mask and gloves in her apartment. She told police he sexually assaulted her. Police said there were no signs of a break and enter and the victim was hospitalized with non-life threatening injuries.
Late Monday, Fairfax County police said they had arrested the suspect and would provide further details at a press conference on Tuesday.
Neighbors in the condo community said that not too long ago a man was looking out the windows in the area. Police sources confirmed that the arrested suspect is believed to be the same person.
Longtime resident Barbara Morgan was devastated to learn what had happened.
“I still feel a bit unsafe because of the way the apartments are located, so it’s very scary,” Morgan said.
“In this neighborhood there are a lot of women who live alone, so we all try to be careful of each other,” said Barbara Kneebone, another resident. “Just because we live next to all these wonderful paths, but they come with some risk.”
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She referenced the pathways around the condo community that could potentially make it easier for someone to enter or exit without being detected.
Despite the arrest, police said they still want neighbors to look at their CCTV cameras if they have them.
“We’ve collected surveillance footage from the neighborhood, and we’re very grateful for that, but we believe there’s more,” said Maj. Ed O’Carroll, commander of the City Police Major Crimes Bureau. Fairfax County. “This predator may have been in the area before, so we’re surveying the whole neighborhood, but we haven’t spoken to everyone.”
Anyone who may have information about this case is asked to contact detectives at 703-246-7800. Tips can also be submitted anonymously through Crime Solvers by phone at 1-866-411-TIPS (866-411-8477), and by Internet.
