Police seek tips in ‘brutal’ rape case
Police are hoping possible witnesses can help solve a rape they are calling “vicious” and “brutal,” which occurred near the southeast corner of 223rd Avenue and Stark Street sometime between 5 and 7:30 a.m. Monday, Feb. 4.
The victim ran into traffic around 7:30 a.m., and a delivery truck stopped to help. The driver called police and waited with her until they arrived.
Lt. David Lerwick, investigations commander with Gresham Police, said in his 29 years with the department he has not seen many brutal sexual assaults of this nature.
“We’ve had vicious sexual assaults like this; they just don’t happen very often,” he said. “Until we find out who did this and what his connection is to her, it can put people on edge.”
The victim, described as a petite light-skinned black woman in her 30s, wearing a dark jacket and blue jeans, is still hospitalized in the intensive care unit.
The suspect is described as a Latino male, 20 to 30 years old, with medium height, medium build and unknown clothing. He possibly has injuries to his face and hands consistent with an assault. Police say he may have been walking with the victim prior to the attack.
The East County Major Crimes Team is continuing to investigate the crime. Anyone who may have seen the victim with the suspect is urged to call the Gresham Police Department’s tip line, 503-618-2719.