Elk Grove police seek suspect in sex assaults

Elk Grove Village police have distributed a composite sketch ofa man sought in a series of sexual assaults in the northwest suburbthat began July 2.

The attacks occurred near the Terrace Apartments complex at 908Ridge Square. Police have distributed flyers bearing the sketch toresidents of the complex and others who live in the area.

All incidents involved women under 30 who were walking alone atnight. None required medical treatment after the attacks, detectivessaid.

Commander John Bantner said the July 2 incident occurred about11 p.m. in Morton Park, along Brantwood Avenue just south of the ElkGrove Village Public Library.

The victim told police the man brandished a knife like thoseused to open shipping cartons and ordered her to strip to the waist.He fondled the woman, but did not attempt to rape her beforereleasing her and running away, detectives said.

On July 29, the suspect accosted another woman in the same areaabout the same time of night and forced her to disrobe completelyafter punching her and brandishing a knife, Bantner said.

A man matching the suspect's description accosted another womanJuly 28 as she was about to enter Terrace Apartments. He grabbedher, and she ran into the building, Bantner said.

Police believe the same man ran up behind a fourth woman in thearea July 27. The woman told detectives he ran away when she turnedand faced him.

The suspect did not display a knife in either the July 27 or 28incidents, Bantner said.

Detectives described the suspect as a white man, 25 to 30 yearsold, between 5 feet 7 inches and 5 feet 10 inches tall, between 160and 170 pounds, with dark brown hair and beard - but no mustache.

None of the women saw the suspect use a vehicle, detectivessaid. Morton Park contains trees that an attacker could hide behind,police said.

Anyone who has seen someone resembling the person in the drawingshould call detectives at 364-2685 or through the general policenumber, 439-3900, Bantner said. Police have stepped up patrols inthe area and detectives are hoping to find other people who may haveseen the suspect, he said.