AUSTIN -- After a string of assaults on women have happened in North Austin over the past several months, police are now connecting seven South and East Austin assaults to the predator, which brings the total count of assaults to 15.
A few months ago, police initially told the public they were investigating four sexual assaults as related incidents. Some time later, a Feb. 6 incident and a Feb. 8 incident were being investigated in relation to the four other assaults.
On April 19, police released a statement about a sexual assault case from April 17 they are investigating. They believe the April 17 case is related to the string of North Austin assaults. In that release, police also gave some details about an incident that happened Feb. 12 that is also being investigated in relation to the other assaults.
On June 1, Austin police posted a PSA video to YouTube, which discusses other incidents as well as the North Austin Assaults.
They also released surveillance video which they believe shows the vehicle connected to the incidents. That part of the video begins at the 2:10 mark.
Austin police said the suspect approaches women from behind and then either pushes them down or in other cases, grabs them. Investigators said all of the women reported the man put a knife to their throats. The Austin Police Department told KVUE the man is also stealing money from some of the women. Each time the women scream, police said the man ran off.
Lt. Gena Curtis with the Violent Crimes Division said the women are in their early 20s and 30s and are usually near apartments, parking lots and stairwells.
Police said the man is between 5-feet 7-inches and 5-feet 9-inches tall, weighs approximately 155 pounds and is in his early-to-mid 20s with short brown or black hair and dark-colored eyes. He is either white or Hispanic. Police said there is a common theme of the suspect wearing a hoodie and either a face mask or bandana to cover the lower part of his face. Police said the suspect may be armed and if he's not wearing a hoodie, he's wearing dark, long-sleeved shirts or jackets.
Here are the details APD has released in relation to each specific crime in North Austin including sexual assaults, attempted sexual assaults and aggravated robbery:
- Dec. 27, 2015 at around 6 p.m.
- Jan. 17 at around 6:30 a.m.
- Jan. 18 at around 9 p.m.
- Jan. 23 at around 5:40 p.m.
- Feb. 6 along Jollyville Road near Duval Road at 3:30 p.m.
- Feb. 8 along Santa Cruz Drive, around 9:30 p.m.
- Feb. 12 at the 6600 block of Millrace Drive at around 12:15 p.m.
- April 17 around 11:50 a.m. on Taylor Draper Lane
All of the crimes in North Austin happened in the areas of Highway 290 and U.S. Route 183, Duval Road and Floral Park and Northgate Boulevard. The following map shows where those roads appear on a map of Austin. A public information officer with APD said they cannot give the exact addresses of the reported assaults because they are sexual assault cases.
Here are the dates of the incidents that police are investigating in South and East Austin:
- Nov. 10
- Nov. 30
- Jan. 1
- Jan. 7
- Jan. 18
- Feb. 12
- April 2
In the PSA video, police showed the following map which shows the locations of the South and East Austin assaults:
Anyone with information about these incidents or the person responsible is asked to call APD's sex crime hotline at 512-974-5230 or Crime Stoppers at 512-471-TIPS (8477).
In light of these recent attacks, police are advising people to be aware of their surroundings and follow these basic safety tips:
- Be aware of your surroundings.
- If you have your hands full, have a plan in case you are attacked.
- Limit distractions. Keep the volume down on your headphones or use just one earphone in order to hear and be alerted to approaching hazards.
- If attacked in an apartment complex remember other apartments are close by so yell in order for neighbors to hear you.
- Exercise with a friend. In case of an emergency, you can help each other out.
- If you have to exercise solo, let at least one friend or family member know your route, expected return time, and description of your clothing.
- Make sure your cell phone is fully charged.
- Walk in well-lit and populated areas if possible. If not, have a light source handy.
- Carry identification and include name, phone number, and medical information (allergies, medications, medical history) Consider listing an emergency contact number.
- Use discretion when acknowledging strangers.
- If you believe someone is following you, call 911 as you move to a safe place. Stay on the phone until police arrive.
- Report any suspicious persons to 911.
To learn more about defending yourself from an attacker, go here:
