Tuesday, April 28, 2009

MORRISTOWN: Police are looking for an unidentified man who allegedly sexually assaulted a woman in Hanover Township on the side of a highway after abducting her from a street corner in Paterson, Morris County Prosecutor Robert A. Bianchi said today.

The 23-year-old woman was waiting for the bus at the intersection of Market and Main streets at approximately 5:00 a.m., Saturday, April 11, 2009, when the suspect approached her in a dark red or maroon colored four-door sedan and ordered her to get into the vehicle. The suspect told the victim that he had a gun. A firearm, however, was never exhibited by the suspect, Bianchi said.

The man drove onto the highway and eventually onto Route 287 south, where he pulled to the side of the road and subsequently sexually assaulted the woman. The victim was able to break free from the suspect and ran for help to a nearby residential neighborhood, Bianchi said.

The suspect is described as a dark skinned man, between 30 and 40 years old, with dark eyes. He was wearing a dark red or rust colored baseball cap, Bianchi said.

Anyone with information is asked to contact the Morris County Prosecutor's Office Sex Crimes Unit at (973) 285-6200, Hanover Township Police Department at (973) 428-2512 or the Morris County Crime Stoppers Program at (973) 267-2255 or (973) COPCALL.