Fairfax County Police have released a surveillance image believed to be a man wanted for at least six recent incidents of assault and indecent exposure along the W&OD Trail in Herndon and Reston.
The man, described as an athletic white or Hispanic 30-something between 5’5” and 5’11” tall, is believed to be the figure captured in footage taken by a Herndon resident’s surveillance camera, according to police.
Detectives continue to investigate the series of indecent exposures & assaults on the WO&D Trail. The man below is a suspect in the incident that occurred last Friday in Herndon & believed to be related to the other cases. Call 703-691-2131 w/info. https://t.co/1TZN6TedK7 pic.twitter.com/Q9ZABWYC3e
— Fairfax County Police (@FairfaxCountyPD) August 31, 2022
“We’re asking our community to give us any information about this man, whether you know who he is, you’ve seen him in the community, you have any surveillance footage, video doorbell footage, anything you can do to help us identify this man so we can bring him to justice and keep our community safe,” Fairfax County Police Sgt. Tara Gerhard said in a media briefing.
Six separate incidents were reported during August, with the assailant described as wearing dark jogging attire and a head wrap, or, on one occasion, a yellow vest.
On three occasions — August 3, 15, and 18 between 6 a.m. and 9 a.m. — the suspect reportedly exposed himself to individuals on the trail near Fairfax County Parkway, police said.
On the morning of August 26, police were informed about a pants-less man approaching and grabbing a victim around the waist. That afternoon, police received a call about an additional assault and indecent exposure.
Then, on August 30 at around 8 p.m., a man reportedly attempted to grab a teenager who was walking on a sidewalk, in what’s believed to be a related incident. A police search ensued, with help from a police helicopter, but the suspect was not located. Heavy police presence is expected near the trail in the days to come.
“We have our neighborhood patrol unit on foot and on bikes riding the trail,” Gerhard said, ABC 7 reported. “And we want to make sure our community understands we are out here. We are dedicating every resource possible to this, from K9s to helicopters to major crimes and neighborhood patrol units.”
Police are urging anyone who may have information relevant to these cases to contact Fairfax County detectives directly at 703-246-7800, option 3.
Anonymous tips may also be submitted by calling 866-411-8477.
Feature image by Christin Boggs Peyper
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