<bt>Fairfax County police believe that a serial rapist has been stalking the area around the Dunn Loring Metro station. Since Sept. 21, three women have reported sexual assaults, or in one case an attempted assault, while taking shortcuts on foot from the station. Two of the assaults occurred last Friday night.
On Sept. 21, a 22-year-old female left the Metro and was walking on Citadel Place near Carnegie Drive when, around 10 p.m., she was grabbed by a man who dragged her into a wooded area behind the nearby Stenwood Elementary School and sexually assaulted her, according to police reports.
On Friday, Oct. 7 at approximately 9:40 p.m., according to another police report, a 45-year-old woman told police she had been grabbed from behind and knocked to the ground as she was walking from the Metro down a footpath near Livingstone Lane, which is in a neighborhood across Gallows Road from the station. When the victim began screaming, her attacker ran away in the direction of the Metro station, police said.
At about 10:53 the same night, another woman, 28, called the police to say she had been attacked and sexually assaulted while taking a shortcut home from the Metro, also on a footpath across Gallows Road from the station. Her attacker grabbed her from behind, dragged her to a more secluded area off the footpath, sexually assaulted her and ran away, said police.
The victims all described their attacker as a black man in his 20s, 5 feet 2 inches to 5 feet 6 inches tall, with a thin build and short hair.
Saturday afternoon, police officers began passing out flyers at the Dunn Loring station to alert Metro users to the crimes and to solicit information.
SEVERAL WOMEN who regularly use the Dunn Loring Metro station said Saturday that the attacks would not keep them from frequenting the station.
"It's not going to keep me from riding the Metro, but it's certainly going to make me more wary and aware and probably carry mace," said Melissa Miller. "This isn't that good an area anyway," Miller said, noting that she already avoids the nearby 7-11 "because things get kind of rowdy there" and refuses to ride the Metro at night.
"I've got not choice. I've got to go to work from here," said Tia Carter, who also said she already carried a knife for protection.
"I will still be coming around the Metro — I have to," said Malou Arends, who recently arrived from Holland for a hotel management internship. She said the Marriott where she is interning provides shuttle service from the station, thus she does not have to walk. "It's worse in Holland," said Arends. "In the big cities, it's worse."
Fairfax County Police spokesperson Officer Shelley Broderick said the "entire area" around the station is now being patrolled heavily. She said police did a canvass of the neighborhood, passing out flyers, and will likely be canvassing again in the near future. "Police officers are making numerous contacts with citizens in the area," said Broderick.
She said a $1,000 reward will be offered by Crime Solvers for information leading to an arrest, and she emphasized that people should report anything suspicious, even if it may seem insignificant.
Metro spokesperson Steven Taub said he was not sure if Metro transit patrols had been stepped up at the station, but noted that, since the assaults have been taking place off Metro property, there is not a lot the transit patrols can do. "Now, if it was in the station, that would be a different story," said Taub.
Anyone with information is asked to call Crime Solvers at 1-866-411-TIPS (8477) or Fairfax County Police at 703-691-2131. Callers may remain anonymous.