WASHINGTON — Police are asking for the public's help finding a man they say is connected to two attacks on women along the Canal Towpath Trail in Chesapeake & Ohio Canal National Historical Park.
According to the National Park Service, the first attack was reported on March 6. National Park Service law enforcement rangers, Maryland Natural Resources Police, and Maryland State Police responded to a report of an aggravated assault of a woman around 6:30 p.m. The assault happened approximately half a mile upstream from the Point of Rocks parking area.
No details about the circumstances leading up to the assault have been released.
The suspect is also accused of chasing a woman on the same trail near the Nolands Ferry parking area four days later. The assault happened shortly before 12:30 p.m. approximately one mile upstream from the Nolands Ferry parking area heading towards the Point of Rocks parking area.
NPS believes the two assaults were committed by the same suspect, described as a man, approximately 40 years old, medium to heavy build, 6’ to 6’1” in height, with a red or strawberry-blonde light beard. The suspect was seen wearing a stocking-style hat, dark “Carhart-like” jacket, and blue jeans during the March 10 incident. He may have driven to the Nolands Ferry parking area in a gray four-door sedan, possibly a Honda Accord.
NPS released photographs of the suspect and a car on Monday:
Anyone with information may contact investigations, especially those who were:
Around the Point of Rocks parking area or on the Canal Towpath Trail during the evening hours of Wednesday, March 6, 2024,
In the area of the Nolands Ferry parking area or on the Canal Towpath Trail during the afternoon hours on Sunday, March 10, 2024
"You don’t have to tell us who you are, but please tell us what you know," NPS said in a press release Monday.
Those with information have several options to contact NPS, including:
- CALL the NPS Tip Line: 888-653-0009
- ONLINE: go.nps.gov/SubmitATip
- EMAIL: nps_isb@nps.gov
- EMERGENCY: dial 9-1-1
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