Police investigating whether Somerville and Medford assaults are related

By Taylor M. Miles

October 22, 2011

2 minutes to read

Police are investigating whether recent late-night assaults on women, including a 23-year-old woman near the Porter Square station Thursday and a Tufts University student early this morning in Medford, are related.

The victim in today’s incident said she was walking down College Avenue at the corner of Stanley Avenue at approximately 1:15 a.m. when a male suspect attacked her from behind, according to a safety alert sent out to students from the Tufts University police.

The victim fought off the suspect after she was knocked to the ground, according to police. The suspect then fled toward George Street or Stanley Avenue on College Avenue.

In the Thursday night incident, the woman was walking to a friend’s house from Porter Square station, passing through the area of Elm Street and Holyoke Road at approximately 11:30 p.m. when the suspect approached her from behind, pushed her into a car, and indecently assaulted her, according to a statement from Somerville police. The suspect fled toward Elm Street after the woman screamed.

“In these incidents, women have reported being grabbed from behind by a man and indecently assaulted before scaring off the attacker,’’ said a statement from Tufts University police tonight. “The target is typically a lone female, usually wearing a skirt or dress, who is walking late at night or early in the morning from the Porter Square or Davis Square MBTA Stations.’’

The Tufts statement acknowledged that the descriptions of the suspect vary.

The suspect in the Medford incident was described as a Hispanic male, about 5 feet, 6 inches tall, in his late teens, with a thin build, dark short hair, dark eyes, and wearing a dark hoodie.

The suspect in the Somerville incident was described as a white male, in his mid-twenties, clean shaven, and about 5 feet, 8 inches tall. He wore a black sweatshirt with the hood up, and may have been wearing jeans, according to a description from the victim.

The incidents are similar to other late-night assaults on women in Somerville in recent months, police said. Police advised women to take precautions when walking alone at night, removing headphones, refraining from listening to loud music, and keeping cell phones accessible. Tufts police also encouraged students to use the safety escort service.

Police are continuing to investigate these incidents and search for the suspects. They encouraged anyone with information to contact Tufts Police at 617-627-3030, Medford Police at 781-395-1212, or Somerville police at 617-625-1212, or text SPD617 to Tip411.