Sheriff's Deputies Hand Out Sketch Of Oakland Park Rapist
OAKLAND PARK (CBS4) – The Broward Sheriff's Office is hoping someone recognizes a man pictured in a police sketch who is wanted for sexually assaulting an Oakland Park woman in her home.
Tuesday evening sheriff's deputies canvassed the apartment building where the woman lived, going door to door, handing out the sketch and asking residents if they recognized the man or had seen him hanging around the complex.
The attack happened last Thursday at the Oasis Apartments in the 100 block of NE 38th Street. The 30-year old woman said around 2 a.m. she opened the front door of her unit to let her dog out and was waiting for her.
"He forced himself inside the apartment and actually retrieved a knife from her kitchen area and forced her to the floor and that's when he viciously and sexually attacked her," said sheriff's department spokeswoman Veda Coleman-Wright.
During the attack, the woman said she continually struggled to get the man off her. When he left, she ran to a neighbor's apartment for help.
Residents of the apartment building told CBS4 the woman lived in the apartment with her fiancé who was at work when the attack happened. Sheriff's investigators don't believe this was a random attack but rather the man had been watching her, waiting for his chance to strike.
"I've never seen him before, he doesn't look familiar at all," said Toria Morgan after looking at the police sketch.
Morgan said it scares her knowing there is a rapist on loose, one who is bold enough to watch, wait and strike when the opportunity is right.
"That's scary because I'm usually out about that time, getting something from the store and coming back home, but if that's the case I won't come outside at all," said Morgan.
The man was described as being a white male with short blond hair, approximately 5'10" tall and weighing about 160 pounds.
Anyone with information on this case is asked to call BSO Special Victims Unit Det. Michele McCardle at (954) 321-4240 or call Broward Crime Stoppers at (954) 493-TIPS (8477).
