Police continue search for rapist

Friday, Aug. 16, 2002 | 10:09 a.m.

Metro Police continued searching for a serial rapist who has attacked at least five women at bus stops along Flamingo Road.

Police are constructing a sketch of the suspect and expect to release the picture today. The attacks started on July 12 when a woman was assaulted at a bus stop on Flamingo Road at Decatur Boulevard. There were no attacks for a few weeks, but then there were two in a matter of days -- Aug. 5 and 7 -- also along Flamingo Road at Wynn Road and at Valley View Boulevard, said Lt. Jeff Carlson of Metro's sexual assault unit.

There were also two assaults this week, on Tuesday at Valley View Boulevard and Flamingo Road and on Wednesday at Rainbow Boulevard and Flamingo, he said.

In all the attacks, the suspect pulls up to a bus stop where a woman is waiting alone between the hours of 10:30 p.m. and 3 a.m. and asks if she wants a ride. On a couple of occasions the women have gone voluntarily with the man. However, if they refuse, he gets out of the car and forces them to come with him.

Once in the car, he drives them to a secluded area and sexually assaults them, Carlson said.

Detectives are checking their sexual offender database, but have not found anyone matching the suspect. All Metro's patrol officers have been given a description of the suspect, Carlson said.

No weapon has been used, but Carlson said that doesn't mean he doesn't have one or won't use one.

The suspect is described as a black man, 25 to 30 years old, about 6 feet tall with a large or muscular build.

Anyone with information in this case is asked to call Metro's sexual assault unit at 229-3421 or Secret Witness at 385-5555.