ALEXANDRIA, Va. — Police are investigating after a sexual assault happened in the Del Ray neighborhood of Alexandria early Wednesday.
A woman reported to the Alexandria Police Department that she was walking after midnight in the area of Mount Vernon Avenue and Commonwealth Avenue when she was attacked and assaulted by a stranger. As a result, the woman is being treated at a local hospital.
APD Interim Police Chief Raul Pedroso said the search for the assailant is his department's top priority.
“Assaults by someone you do not know are very, very rare," Alexandria Police Spokesperson Tracey Walker said. “Every resource is being made available to APD detectives at this time to make this a top priority. [The interim police chief] also increased patrols in the neighborhood area to be on the lookout and to also help make the community feel a sense of security."
Detectives were seen canvassing the area Wednesday and talking to community members.
"They were knocking on doors, and looking in trashcans and the curbs and up at the tops of the buildings," a neighbor who asked not to be identified said.
Despite the police presence, there is still concern from Del Ray residents. Several people told WUSA 9 they didn't even know it happened until they wer asked about it, while others expressed their surprise saying that type of crime is uncommon for the neighborhood. The attack occured just down the street from a preschool and community school.
“I’m stunned," the unidentified neighbor said. "It's very, very unusual, unheard of in this sweet little neighborhood."
A separate sexual assault occured on Feb, 4 near Main Line Boulevard, but initial investigation leads police to believe the two assaults are unrelated, according to Walker.
Police said any information could be a lead for detectives to close this case, and are asking for the public to reach out with anything they may have seen or heard.
“You may have seen something and not think it’s relevant but the least bit of information could be very very helpful," Walker said.
If anyone in the neighborhood has security cameras that may have footage for review or if anyone saw someone or something suspicious, please contact Detective Kristina Loerch at 703-746-6785. Tips can remain anonymous. They're also asking for dashcam video from anyone who may have been driving in the area around the time of the incident.
This is an open and active investigation. Police said it's too early in the investigation process to said if this was an isolated incident. No description of the attacker has been released. The goal is to find someone with surveillance video or who saw someone to come forward.
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