Safety Alert: Three Assaults in Porter and Union Sq. Areas

Somerville Police Issue Safety Alert: Three Indecent Assaults on Women in Porter and Union Square Areas

From the Somerville Police:

Over the past three
months, there have been three assaults on women in Somerville in the Union and
Porter Square areas after dark in the evening hours and early nighttime. The Somerville Police Department is
working to identify and apprehend the suspects as quickly as possible, and we
wish to alert residents, especially women, to take safety precautions.

On Sunday, January
12, 2014, a 45-year-old female was indecently assaulted on Hawkins St. near
Somerville Avenue in the Union Square area. 
The suspect is described as a white Hispanic male, 25 to 30 years of
age, approximately 5’ 06” tall, with a medium build and brown eyes.  This suspect was wearing a black zip-up
sweater, a beanie cap with ear flaps, black tennis shoes, jeans and he was
carrying a gray back pack.

On Thursday, January
2, 2014, a 28-year-old female was indecently assaulted while walking on Porter
St. between Summer St. and Highland Ave in the Porter Square area.  The suspect is described as a white male, 20 to
30 years of age, 5’-09” to 5’-10” tall, with a thin-athletic build,  and clean shaven.  The suspect was wearing a red ski jacket with
black under the armpits and dark pants. 
The suspect fled from Porter St. down Francis St. to Conwell St.

This description
closely resembles that of a suspect who committed a similar offense on Porter
St. near Elm Street in the Porter Square area on November 18, 2013.  Whether or not one suspect is responsible for
both incidents remains under investigation.

The Somerville
Police would like to encourage everyone, especially women, to take precautions
while walking at night.  Do not wear ear
buds while walking, avoid poorly lit areas, be aware of your surroundings, and
if possible do not walk alone.  Keep your
cell phone handy, so you can make a call to police quickly. If you are
approached by a man you do not know, call 911 right away. 

Any citizen with
information regarding any of these assaults is asked to contact Sgt. Richard
Lavey at the Somerville Police Department Family Services Unit @ 617.625.1600
ext. 7237 or by email at, or the Somerville Police Criminal Investigation Division
617.625.1600 ext. 7220. Anonymous tips may also be texted to the phone number "TIP411" (
847411 ); then put "617spd" at the beginning of your text message.

A sketch of one of the suspects.