Prosecutors: Suspect Sexually Assaulted 2 Women In Palisades Park
PALISADES PARK, N.J. (CBSNewYork) -- Palisades Park, New Jersey was on edge Wednesday night, as police searched for a man who sexually assaulted at least two women.
CBS2's Tracee Carrasco spoke with one woman who said she could have been one of the victims.
"I was running at 10 o'clock and I was listening to my music, I had earphones. But then this guy came out of nowhere and just, like, stood in front of me," said the woman, who did not want to be identified.
The woman believes she had a run in with the suspect who is wanted by police in the sexual assault of two women. The 21-year-old victim got away, but feared she could have been one of his victims.
"He was trying to put down his pants, and I screamed so much," she said.
The Bergen County Prosecutor's Office said last Tuesday night just after 9 p.m., the man followed a woman several blocks from the 166 NJ TRANSIT bus stop down Broad Avenue to West Edsall Avenue, when he attacked her from behind, knocked her to the ground and sexually assaulted her.
They believe he did the same thing to another woman last Thursday around 10:30 p.m., when he followed her down Broad Avenue to Second Street.
"Both victims came off of a local a bus, which means that he's either on that bus and getting off with them, or he's just targeting," said Bergen County Prosecutor John Molinelli.
The Prosecutor's office said the suspect is a Hispanic male with a medium build, about 5 feet 6 to 5 feet 8 inches tall and between 30 and 35 years old.
In both cases, the victims were walking alone. Commuters and women in the area have now been warned to be on the lookout.
"I try to be street smart and like watch out though, and I do look behind me, and make sure people aren't following," said commuter Bo Yu. "It's dangerous, and people have to watch out for each other."
"I try not to go out in the night," another commuter said.
It was a lesson learned for the woman who said she was nearly a victim, who said she would "never" run alone in the area again.
The Prosecutor's officer says neither of the victims had any serious physical injuries, but residents want the man caught before he has a chance to attack again.
