Police Seeking Help Locating Assault Suspect

OCEAN CITY -- The Ocean City Police Department (OCPD) this week is seeking the public’s help in identifying and locating a suspect wanted in connection with a series of attempted sexual assaults on female victims in the early morning hours after the bars close.

The attempted sexual assaults have occurred in poorly lit, semi-secluded areas near bar establishments in a broad area of the resort between 15th and 62nd Streets. The most recent incident occurred on July 28 in the early morning hours. In each case, a female victim was under the influence of alcohol and walking home alone when the unidentified male suspect has initiated a conversation.

In each case, the unknown male suspect then forces the victim to the ground and attempts to sexually assault them. The suspect is described as a white male, roughly 5’10” tall, around 170 pounds and in his mid-20s or early 30s. Ocean City police are asking anyone with information about similar incidents or the suspect to contact Detective Simpson of the OCPD Criminal Investigation Division at 410-520-5349.

Since the incidents were reported this week, there have been no new cases. OCPD spokesperson Jessica Waters said on Wednesday the department’s Criminal Investigation Division is continuing to aggressively investigate the attempted sexual assaults that have occurred over the past few weeks and issued a few common sense safety reminders to residents and visitors.

“We want to remind residents and visitors to take preventative measures by reporting suspicious people and activity,” she said. “Also, use caution, don’t walk alone at night and use well-lit and highly traveled streets.”

Waters said the OCPD released the information to make citizens aware of the attempted assaults and follow common sense safety measures.

“Finally, we want to remind citizens that Ocean City is a very safe place to live and visit,” she said. “We certainly don’t want to alarm people, rather, we want to make people aware that this happened so they can use caution, especially when consuming alcohol.”