Charlotte Mecklenburg police are investigating two sexual assaults that occurred early Wednesday morning.
The first one happened at 5 a.m. on East W. T. Harris Boulevard.
Lt. Muriel Hughes says the victim was out power walking when she said a man wearing a mask and a hoodie tried to rape her. Hughes says the man indicated he had a weapon but the woman fought back and her attacker fled.
Police received a second call from a 26-year-old woman who said she was raped shortly after 6 a.m. near Arrowwood Road. Hughes says the woman was waiting at a bus stop when she was approached by a man in an unmarked white van.
“He had a gun that he pointed at her and forced her to get into the car,” Hughes said. “He took her to another location where he sexually assaulted her.”
Hughes says the two sexual assaults appear to be unrelated and do not match the MOs of any active investigations. She says most sexual assaults in Charlotte involve people who know each other, but these victims and attackers were strangers.
“Stranger rapes account for 10 percent of our sexual assaults so this is very unusual that we had two almost happen back to back with each other,” Hughes said.
Hughes says 10 sexual assaults involving strangers have been reported this year. No suspects have been identified in today’s cases.
Police ask anyone with information in today’s attacks to call their anonymous tip line at 704-334-1600 or visit their website at http://charlottecrimestoppers.com/
