Crime Alert: Assaults in the East Village

According to the Georgetown listserv, a woman was assaulted at the intersection of Q and 31st at 11:00 Sunday morning. A resident writes:

As a resident at Q St and 33rd, I wanted to make the Georgetown community aware of the assault that took place today, July 12nd on Q St, just west of 31st.

My fiancee, while returning from breakfast in the M St. Area, was assaulted at approximately 11:15 AM in what appears to be an attempted robbery. Based on several witness accounts, the assailant double parked a solid, unmarked white van on 31st St just north of Q. He was noticed due to his suspicious demeanor by a nearby witness. 

My fiancee, while talking to me on her cell, heard footsteps behind her but did not get a clear look at the man. He struck her with his fist from behind in an apparent attempt to get her to drop the clutch she was carrying. Being the tough lady she is, my fiancee held on to her purse got nothing from her and fled as she screamed for help. He reentered his illegally parked vehicle and sped off.

The man was described as a black male with short hair. He was of medium to large build and was wearing a while undershirt, jeans, and a baseball cap.

The van was described as a white, unmarked van similar to the kind often used by painters and couriers. The police conducted a thorough search of the area and a police report is on file with District 2. The Point officer for the incident is Officer Moore – District 2 Metro PD.

Our main intent in sending this information out is to help arm the women in the community and to remind you to be aware, even in Georgetown and even in the middle of the day on a Sunday.

This report led another resident to relate this story:

This incident sounds nearly identical to one that occured a few weeks ago not even a block away on 30th between Q and R along the Graham estate wall. I want to say it was Thursday evening, June 18 around 8:00 when it happened. I might not have the date correct but it was during the week at 8:00 – still full daylight, and lots of people out and about. From my neighbor’s account (he was on his porch and heard the screams), the girl was punched in the face by the assailant. She started screaming and he jumped into a white vehicle. I don’t know if it was also a van.

Is there a brazen mugger driving around in a white van through the East Village jumping women? Keep your eyes peeled, even during the most improbably hours.