ATLANTA — Police say a man accused in the rape of an Atlanta woman may be tied to at least four attacks or attempted attacks in the Mechanicsville area.
Channel 2's Nicole Carr first reported first reported on one of the attacks Friday night on the Channel 2 Action News Nightbeat at 11 p.m.
The attack happened on the 400 block of Ralph D. Abernathy Road on Dec. 27 just before 8 a.m.
The victim told police she was "walking for exercise" when the armed man forced her into a secluded area and raped her.
Atlanta police believe the man has sexually assaulted or attempted to sexually assault four women in the Mechanicsville neighborhood over the past year, and police say one of those victims was a juvenile.
TRENDING STORIES:
- 1-2 inches of snow possible in north Georgia this weekend
- Famous Atlanta chef found dead
- Dog missing for three weeks found in well
"We do believe from the last three incidents that he is in the area or close by," said Maj. Adam Lee III with the Atlanta Police Department.
Police say the suspect attacked his first victim last January, then attacked several more women in just the past few weeks.
“What we need to do is really implore the public to take a really good look at this sketch and call Crime Stoppers for us if they feel that they know who this is,” Lee told Channel 2’s Justin Wilfon.
Police released a sketch of the attacker. He is believed to be around 5 feet 9 inches tall and weighs between 160 and 180 pounds.
Investigators said the man had a black revolver during all the attacks. All the attacks happened in the early morning or late at night when the women were out and about.
"It's just ridiculous. It's scary, really," Mechanicsville resident Keyonna Thomas told Wilfon. "I hope they catch him. I hope they catch him and put him in jail because that's where he needs to be."
Police said the man has not entered any homes.
Anyone with information about the identity of the alleged rapist is asked to call Crime Stoppers at 404-577-8477.
Cox Media Group
