Another Woman Fends Off Plastic Bag Attacker

ARLINGTON, Va. -- Arlington County Police are urging women to be vigilant while walking after a fourth woman was attacked by a man who tried to place a plastic bag over her head.

The latest attack occurred early Monday morning in the 1100 block of North Vernon Street when a woman heard someone running up from behind. When she turned around, a man tried to put a plastic bag over her head. The woman screamed, and the man ran away.

Three of the four assaults were attempted abductions where the suspect tried to put a plastic bag over the women's heads. In another, a woman was groped.

"While we do have robberies and other things that happen on the street, it's not normal for a person to use a plastic bag like this," Arlington County Police Detective Steve Gomez says. "The main thing that links those two to the first event is the description of the suspect."

Police say in the two most recent attacks, each woman had been walking with friends around 2:30 a.m. In each case, the women became separated from their friends and the attack occurred.

"The two incidents that happened in April and May with the use of the plastic bag -- that's very unusual," Gomez says.

One attack occurred on May 10 around 2:38 a.m. when a woman was walking in the 4000 block of Washington Boulevard and heard someone running up behind her, police say. Before the woman could turn around, a man tried to put a plastic bag over her head. The woman pushed the bag away and the man fled.

Around 11:30 p.m. on April 16, another woman was walking to her car in the 1400 block of N. Nash Street in Rosslyn when a man attacked her from behind and placed a plastic bag over her head, police say. The man ran away after the woman turned around, screamed and struck him with her purse.

Another incident occurred around 9:45 p.m. March 5 in the 1500 block of N. Key Boulevard in Rosslyn when a man approached a woman from behind and groped her, police say.

The suspect is described as a black man with a medium build and light to medium complexion. He is described as 20 to 30 years old and between 5-foot-10 and 6 feet tall.

Police are advising women to avoid walking alone, especially after dark, and to stay in well-lit areas and be aware of their surroundings.

If this type of attack happens, police are suggesting to scream loudly.

Anyone with information about these cases, or about similar attacks that might be related, should contact Detective D.R. Cupka at 703-228-4193.

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