Attempted Rape In Maplewood Likely Linked To 2 Similar Incidents
MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) – Police are issuing a warning about an armed man carjacking women in the East Metro.
The man may have struck again this weekend outside a popular Maplewood Bar early Sunday morning.
There were two similar incidents last February.
In the three separate cases--two in Maplewood and one in North St. Paul--a man has forced himself into his victims cars at gunpoint and threatened to rape them.
Police believe the same person is likely responsible, because these cases are so strikingly similar. They also believe he is likely to strike again.
The latest victim was approached as she left the Dog House Bar near Maplewood Mall after bar closing.
The man forced her at gunpoint to drive to a nearby neighborhood, police chief Paul Schnell said. After making her undress and exposing himself, he abruptly apologized and got out of the car.
"He fled and the woman called police," Schnell said.
In the first case last February, a woman was approached as she was leaving a St. Paul ice arena.
The woman spoke with WCCO, but asked not to be identified.
"He said, 'We're going to go to a parking lot and we're going to have sex,'" the woman said. "That's when I broke down, and I said, 'No, no you are not going to do that to me."
She was able to escape.
But 15 minutes later outside a Maplewood fitness center, a man forced his way into another woman's car.
He threatened to rape the woman, but eventually the man got out of the car without sexually assaulting her.
The three attacks occurred within four miles of each other.
Police are urging women in the area to avoid isolated areas, not to carry too many packages, to have their cell phones with them and to avoid wearing headphones when alone.
"Be prepared to get in your car and get the doors locked as soon as you can," Schnell said. "These are really simple things that can minimize risk."
Unfortunately,police do not have a great description of the man.
He was described as wearing a dark-colored hoodie and pants, as well as a ski mask with a red stripe near the top. He's said to be 30 to 50 years old, with light skin and a thin build.
If you know anything about this incident, call 911 or the Maplewood Police Department at 651-767-0640.