A woman reported being groped while walking in Northeast Washington, and surveillance footage may help investigators identify the man involved.
Police in Washington, D.C., are investigating a reported sexual assault in the Eckington neighborhood after a woman said a man approached her from behind and groped her while she was walking Sunday night.
The incident happened around 10:30 p.m. on U Street NE near Lincoln Road NE, according to the latest reporting on the investigation.
Surveillance footage reviewed in connection with the incident appears to show the woman walking with a yoga mat when a man wearing a light-colored sweatshirt with the hood pulled up approaches from behind. The man appears to grab her and continue running without stopping.
A second security camera reportedly captured a person believed to be the same man moving through an alley nearby.
The woman then encountered a neighbor who was riding a bicycle in the area. He told NBC4 Washington that she appeared extremely distressed and told him she had been sexually assaulted. He advised her to contact police and then followed the direction in which the suspect had fled.
The neighbor said he went toward Lincoln Road but saw the man enter an alley and was unable to catch up with him. He then returned to the woman, who was still waiting nearby.
The victim reported the incident to police, and detectives are investigating.
The case has also drawn attention among Eckington residents, with reports of other women describing similar encounters on social media. Some residents have reportedly organized a group chat to share information and possible sightings involving the person they believe may be responsible.
Those additional accounts have not been established as confirmed police cases, and it is not clear whether they are connected to the incident under investigation.
The surveillance footage could become an important part of the investigation as detectives work to determine whether the same person is responsible for other reported incidents in the neighborhood.
Residents who believe they have information about the case should contact the Metropolitan Police Department rather than attempting to confront or follow anyone they believe may be involved.
