Police seek attempted rape suspect

By Elisa Glushefski

Published: August 19, 2008

Prince William police are investigating a reported sexual assault that occurred at Manassas National Battlefield Park on Tuesday.

A 25-year-old Fairfax County woman called 911 around 12:10 p.m. and reported that a man attacked her on a battlefield path, said 1st Sgt. Kim Chinn, police spokeswoman.

The woman told police she was hiking and had stopped to rest about a half-mile away from the Stone Bridge that crosses Bull Run at the Fairfax/Prince William County line when a man armed with a knife grabbed her by the wrist, Chinn said.

The assailant then inappropriately touched her, police said, but fled when she screamed.

The woman told police he fled toward the park parking lot off U.S. 29 in Fairfax County.

The assailant was described as a Latino man, in his 20s, between 5 feet 5 inches and 5 feet 6 inches tall, with a shaved head, police said. He was wearing plaid shorts, a black shirt and white shoes.

For several hours, battlefield police searched areas of the park on horseback and Prince William patrol officers searched nearby areas, but no one matching that description was found, Chinn said.

Prince William police are also working with Fairfax County police on the case.

Chinn said additional information would be released as it becomes available.

Staff writer Elisa Glushefski can be reached at 703-878-8062.