Police: Man assaulted woman on Montgomery County trail

MONTGOMERY COUNTY, Md. ( DC News Now ) – Days after a woman said a man groped her on the Rock Creek Stream Valley Trail near a playground, Maryland-National Capital Park Police are trying to track him down.

Officers said it happened Tuesday afternoon in Chevy Chase. Neighbors who typically feel safe said that’s not the case anymore.

“It’s frustrating because it’s a wonderful nature walk,” Susan, who lives near the Rock Creek Stream Valley Trail, said.

Susan walks 8 to 10 miles daily, and on Tuesday, she knew something wasn’t right.

“I saw policemen and women in my neighborhood walking,” she said, “and you could tell something was up. Then, I came down further and saw more.”

Officers say a woman was on the trail near the Jones Mill Road Playground around 4 p.m. She told them a man approached her and touched her inappropriately.

Two people spoke with DC News Now Friday but did not want to be identified.

“It’s definitely very hard to hear that this is happening because we live in this neighborhood,” one neighbor said, “We always think that it’s a safe neighborhood.”

“We take for granted that this is a nice loop in the neighborhood. You can walk your dog, go on a jog or whatever so that’s definitely concerning,” another neighbor said.

Neighbors are saying the incident is concerning enough to prompt a change in their routines and a change in the way they see the area, at least for now.

“Even now going home,” Susan said, “I’ll walk a different route because there are definitely routes that have cars, that are more open.”

One neighbor said they won’t be returning to the area alone anymore.

“I’ll come here with a friend or someone else because I think you’re just always safer in numbers,” they said.

Others said they would come prepared next time.

“I will look online and see what I can find to have on me if, unfortunately, there’s ever a situation like that,” another neighbor said.

Maryland-National Capital Park Police is asking anyone with more information on this incident to contact them immediately.

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