What started as a routine morning walk in Norcross on July 1 turned into a police hunt for a mystery attacker, and Gwinnett County detectives are now asking the public to help identify the man they say assaulted a woman from behind, then took off running.
Officers were called to the intersection of Old Norcross Tucker Road and Glenbrook Drive after the woman reported that a man approached her from behind, assaulted her and then ran toward Britt Road. Police say the attack happened during her usual walk through the area.
Investigators describe the suspect as a light-skinned Hispanic man in his late teens to early 20s, about 5 feet 7 inches tall, with a slim build and short black hair that is faded on the sides with a curly top. The department worked with a Georgia Bureau of Investigation forensic artist to create a sketch based on the victim’s description. According to CBS News Atlanta, police released that image in hopes it will spark tips from the community.
Sketch Released, Police Ask For Tips
Detectives say the sketch is meant to jog the memory of anyone who might have seen the man in the neighborhood that morning, whether on foot, in a car or caught on a security camera. They are hoping someone recognizes the face or the hairstyle and calls it in.
Per the Gwinnett County Police Department, anyone with information is asked to call detectives at 770-513-5300 or contact Crime Stoppers at 404-577-8477.
Neighbors Urged To Check Cameras
As in other investigations, detectives are urging residents nearby to review any doorbell or home security footage from the morning of July 1 for possible sightings of the suspect moving through the area. Shared video and neighborhood tips have helped crack previous cases around Norcross, and police are clearly hoping for a repeat.
Local coverage notes officers have stayed busy in the city. On the same date as the walking trail assault, a separate case ended with the arrest of a man accused of threatening a taxi driver with a knife after what police described as a multi-week investigation. As reported by FOX 5 Atlanta, that probe wrapped up with an arrest earlier that day.
Anyone who recognizes the person in the sketch or saw anything unusual that morning near Old Norcross Tucker Road and Glenbrook Drive is urged to call the Gwinnett County Police Department at 770-513-5300. Tips can also be submitted anonymously to Crime Stoppers at 404-577-8477.
