*****NORTH TEXAS CRIME ALERT*****
Posted: Tue Nov 16, 2004 10:28 am
THIS IS A MUST READ
E. Arlington residents wary after sex assaults
By YOLANDA WALKER / WFAA ABC 8
Police are warning residents in Arlington to keep their doors locked after a suspect entered apartments and sexually assaulted several girls.
Over the past week and a half the suspect attacked three girls aged 12, 14 and 16 at the Park Lane Apartments in the 3000 block of East Park Row.
Authorities said the suspect waited until after midnight, and entered units through unlocked doors. He was nude, and in some cases fondled his victims.
"In each instance, the girl woke up, saw the suspect and got a good description," said Arlington police spokesperson Christy Gilfour. "The suspect ran when the girls called for help."
Police said the suspect is a short Hispanic man between 30 and 40 years old, with a light mustache that he may have shaved off by now. He has a gold tooth, and usually wears a blue or white ball cap.
Resident Monica Coronel is 15, about the age of the three victims who live around here.
"You have to worry about it, because it's dangerous," said Coronel.
At the Timber Ridge Apartments across the street, police believe the same suspect may be responsible for another sexual assault and burglary that happened back in July. The police department distributed flyers with the suspect's sketch and description to warn residents.
"Right now, we're trying to get as much information as possible from the public to try to find out who this guy is (and) where he is ... so that we can bring him into custody," Gilfour said.
In the meantime, everyone is encouraged to lock all of their doors - front and back. Women are making sure they don't walk alone.
"This is not a safe neighborhood, so I think they should lock their doors," said resident Francisca Rodart. "They should be more cautious about it."
<IMG src="http://www.wfaa.com/sharedcontent/dws/img/11-04/1116_arl_suspects.jpg" width=350>
Photo provided by Arlington PD
A victim and a witness provided information for these police sketches of the suspect.