Lakewood police ask for public’s help identifying sexual assault suspect

LAKEWOOD, Wash. — Officers with the Lakewood Police Department are asking for the public’s help in identifying a man who they say sexually assaulted a woman in Fort Steilacoom Park.

According to police, the sexual assault happened around 7:15 p.m. on June 3 not far from the water towers inside the park.

Police described the man as white, in his 20s, about 5 feet 7 inches tall, with dark hair and a slight build.

The man was wearing sunglasses and was with a medium-sized “Border Collie type dog,” police said.

Police said the woman told police she was walking on a trail when the man came up from behind and grabbed her buttocks and crotch area.

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“When the victim swatted the suspect’s right hand away, the suspect made a comment to her about wanting to touch her buttocks,” a spokesperson for the police department said in news release.

Police said the man then pointed a knife at the woman and said “come at me” before he ran away.

According to police, a different woman saw the same man masturbating in the southwest corner of the park near Pierce College around 6:45 p.m.

“As the victim ran by, the suspect slapped the victim’s behind. It is believed that this suspect is the same as the suspect in the first case,” police said.

Police released a sketch of the man -- see above -- and are asking for anyone with information on him or either of the incidents to call Special Investigative Unit Detective Darin Sale at (253) 830-5098 or emailing dsale@cityoflakewood.us.

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