Commissioner Urges Women To Be Cautious After Violent Sexual Assault In Her District
MIAMI (CBSMiami) - As police continue to search for a violent rapist in Miami, the Miami-Dade County Commissioner who represents the district in which the attack happened is asking women to be vigilant.
"The first thing that went through my mind was idea of being so disturbed," Commissioner Audrey Edmonson said. "When women especially have been raped, robbed, all in broad daylight and no one seems to have seen anything, I become very disturbed."
The community surrounding NE 86 St. and NE 9 Ave. is shaken up over the attack last Monday
"I'm terrified," Ruchira Setheia said. "Especially when I'm walking alone."
"Of course it's scary," Marialena Larsen said.
It was 9:20 in the morning on December 30 when investigators say a man jumped into the passenger seat of a parked car, forced the woman in the driver's seat to the backseat, drove a few blocks away and raped her.
The woman was also robbed at gunpoint, according to police.
Security video captured the man leaving the scene and detectives think he was driving a dark blue or black late model Chevrolet Impala with dark tinted windows and chrome rims.
Commissioner Edmonson believes someone saw something and urges any witnesses to come forward immediately.
"We have to start telling something. There's nothing wrong with being a snitch. There's nothing wrong with picking up the phone," Edmonson told CBS4's Lauren Pastrana.
Detectives think there may be more victims out there, and Edmonson asks women to be on alert.
"You cannot sit in your car now, I think we all see that now, you can't just sit there with unlocked doors because once someone is in the car with you, you lose control," Edmonson said.
Police will be handing out flyers in the area where the crime occurred Wednesday morning.
Anyone with information is asked to call Miami-Dade Crimestoppers at 305-471-TIPS (8477). You can remain anonymous.