A woman was violently assaulted in Newark earlier this month, and police are asking for the public’s help identifying the suspect seen in surveillance video.
Newark police released surveillance footage showing a man attacking a woman in the 200 block of Leslie Street. Police Chief Sharonda Morris said the victim was not robbed.
“Nothing was taken from her. So she wasn’t robbed. She was just assaulted, and then he ran away,” Morris said.
According to police, the attack happened Friday, Sept. 18, at about 1:30 a.m.
“We did have a young lady who exited the bus, was walking down Leslie Street, and the individual male suspect approached her over by Shaw Avenue and walked her down the alley and assaulted her,” said Capt. Wyhidi Wilson, commander of the 5th Precinct.
Neighbors said the victim’s screams were disturbing.
“It was horrible. I’m like, yeah, that’s sad. It really worried me,” neighbor Amani Bruton said.
Bruton said she was nearby when the attack occurred but did not initially know what had happened.
“I was actually here the day it happened. We saw the police out here, but we didn’t really know what was going on,” she said.
Police said the surveillance video shows the suspect repeatedly striking the victim before fleeing. Wilson said the victim’s response may have helped her survive the attack.
It’s powerful, the scream; it’s real. So it’s happening. And, I think that she was in pure fear for her life, and she did what she had to do in that moment to survive that attack,” Wilson said.
Eyewitness News reported that some neighbors said they heard the victim screaming for help at about 1:30 a.m. but did not get involved or call police. Morris urged residents to take action when they hear someone in distress.
“To that person, I’m just saying it could be your mother. It could be your sister. It could be your child,” Morris said.
Another neighbor, who identified himself only as Lex, said he was surprised he did not hear the incident.
“I’m still wondering how I didn’t hear that because usually I can hear everything out of my bedroom window,” she said.
Police said they are still working to identify the suspect, who was described as having a muscular build and wearing a black shirt and denim shorts. Investigators said he appeared to have dreadlocks wrapped in a tam.
The assault has left some residents feeling more cautious.
“I’m hypervigilant. More than I used to be. So, that means if I have to keep a pocket knife for me or something like pepper spray is definitely happening,” Lex said.
Police continue to investigate the attack and are seeking information that could help identify the suspect.