News Nearby: Sexual Attacks in Ross Appear to be Random, Police Say

The two Ross Township women sexually assaulted in their apartments in the early morning hours after returning from walking their dogs apparently do not have any connection to their attacker, according to police. 

"These appear to be random," said Ross Police spokesman Sgt. Benjamin Dripps. 

As of noon, police were still on the scene at the  at 100 East West Drive, where the second assault took place Monday morning. 

A neighbor who gave his name only as John P. said he was feeling physically sick over the news. 

"I've lived here a long time. This isn't the Cascades. This is a friendly community," he said. "I hope they catch the bastard." 

The woman, who is in her mid-20s, police said, left her apartment to walk her dog at about 6 a.m. Monday. When she returned she found an unknown man with a black handgun in her apartment and she was assaulted inside the apartment, Dripps said. 

The man demanded money before the assault, according to police. 

Dripps declined to comment on whether anyone else was inside the apartment at the time. No other injuries were reported, he said. 

The woman told police she saw the man outside the apartment complex at the start of her walk. He did not confront her then. 

The woman's identity is not being released because of the nature of the crime. She was transported to a local hospital with injuries that were not life-threatening, Dripps said. 

Police are searching for a suspect described as a black man in his mid-40s wearing dark jeans, a dark, Nike hooded and zippered sweatshirt — with red Michael Jordan logo — and a dark knit cap or mask rolled up on his head. 

The description of the suspect matches the description of the man who attacked another woman on Saturday in an apartment at the Woodhawk Club Apartment complex on Johanna Drive. 

That woman is also in her mid-20s and was also attacked after returning from walking her dog, at about 9:30 a.m. In that incident, however, she was confronted outside. The man showed a handgun and forced her to return to her apartment with him where he assaulted her, police said. 

That woman's identity also is not being released because of the nature of the crime. She also was transported to a local hospital with injuries that were not life-threatening, police said. 

The man did not use a ruse to get close to either woman, Dripps said.

Police are searching for a dark blue Ford Expedition XLT that a witness saw leave the Woodhawk Club Apartment complex Saturday driven by a man matching the description of the suspect. The vehicle was also captured by cameras on McKnight Road minutes after the suspect was believed to have left the scene, Dripps said. 

The Expedition is believed to be a newer model, possibly 2009, and may have damage to the driver's side door. It is a regular length SUV, Dripps said. 

Stay tuned to Patch for more updates. 

Anyone who sees a person matching the suspect's description or a vehicle matching the one police are looking for is asked to contact the  at 931-9070.