The Brooklyn Park Police Department has formed a task force to search for a man who held a gun to a woman and sexually assaulted her Wednesday morning — the second incident of this nature in less than week.
The incident occurred on the 7500 block of Jersey Avenue North, less than a mile from where a man broke into a woman’s home July 17, demanded money, held her at gunpoint and sexually assaulted her.
The victim of the July 22 incident described the suspect as a light-skinned black man with medium-length dreadlocks sticking out from the balaclava he was wearing during the incident.
A statement from Brooklyn Park police noted the taskforce is focused on this individual suspect and requested help from the public.
Members of the public are advised to secure all doors and windows, particularly those on the ground floor, and check security cameras for any evidence of an individual lurking in residential areas over the past week.
If any possible evidence is discovered, call 911 and ask for the Brooklyn Park Police Department or contact the department directly at 763-493-8222. If residents see an individual lurking in their neighborhood or near their home at unusual hours, they are advised to call 911 directly.
July 22 incident details
At approximately 6:30 a.m., Brooklyn Park police were notified of an assault in the 7500 Block of Jersey Avenue North. Responding officers learned a man had entered a woman’s residence around 5:30 a.m. and held a gun to the victim’s head before sexually assaulting her. The suspect fled the scene prior to the 911 call and officers were unable to locate him.
July 17 incident details
Brooklyn Park police responded to the scene around 5 a.m. July 17 after receiving a report of a home invasion in a townhome complex on the 7600 block of Hampshire Ave. N., near Hartkopf Park.
The victim reported waking up to an unknown adult male holding her at gunpoint, police say. The suspect allegedly demanded money from the victim and then sexually assaulted her.
According to the victim, the suspect fled on foot before she was able to call 911.
A significant police response was initiated due to the nature of the offense. A large-scale search was conducted Friday morning with assistance from neighboring law enforcement in Crystal and Brooklyn Center.
The suspect was not located and the incident remains under investigation.