Arlington police say a late-night walk through a Columbia Forest parking garage ended in terror for a woman who was sexually assaulted in a stairwell on May 22. The suspect, identified as 25-year-old Cristobal Vasquez Sanchez, is accused of attacking her in a residential garage near Columbia Pike before she managed to escape and get help. He is being held without bond on charges of sexual battery and attempted object sexual penetration, and detectives are now publicly asking for more tips and potential additional victims to come forward.
Police say the attack unfolded near Columbia Pike
According to WJLA, Arlington County Police were called around 10:36 p.m. to the 5500 block of Columbia Pike. A woman reported that a man confronted her in the stairwell of a residential parking garage, started talking to her and then touched her inappropriately. She managed to get away, and another person helped her after she escaped the stairwell. The suspect ran off, but officers later located and arrested Vasquez Sanchez on May 25. He is currently being held at the Arlington County Detention Facility.
Detectives push for more witnesses to speak up
Detectives with the Special Victims Unit are treating the case as very much active and ongoing. They want to hear from anyone who may have been targeted in a similar way or who noticed suspicious activity in the area, ARLnow reported. Investigators say tips that came in over the weekend helped them move the case forward, and they are continuing to follow up on leads.
Recent cases add urgency to police plea
Arlington has already dealt with several high-profile cases this month. Earlier in May, the county issued a press release about an attempted abduction inside a Pentagon City business on May 6, handled by the Special Victims Unit. In that case, as with the Columbia Pike assault, the victim escaped and police later arrested a suspect, according to the Arlington County news release. The recent cluster of incidents has prompted extra patrols and follow-up work in busy commercial corridors.
How to help and stay safe
Police are asking anyone with information about the Columbia Pike stairwell incident to contact Detective P. Pena at 703-228-4183 or [email protected], or to submit anonymous tips through Arlington County Crime Solvers at 1-866-411-TIPS, per WJLA. Neighbors and commuters are being urged to stick to well-lit areas, travel with others when they can, and call police right away if they see anything that seems off.
What’s next
Vasquez Sanchez is facing charges of sexual battery and attempted object sexual penetration. Prosecutors will review the full investigation before moving ahead with the case, and the question of bond will be addressed in court as proceedings continue.
