Suspect sought in attempted sexual assault in Silver Spring

Montgomery County police are asking for the public's help to find a man who tried to sexually assault a 16-year-old girl Wednesday afternoon in the Briggs Chaney area of Silver Spring.

Police said it happened inside an apartment building in the 14000 block of Castle Boulevard at around 3 p.m. The teenager was trying to enter her apartment building when the suspect asked the victim to hold the door for him. Once inside, the suspect tried to strike up a conversation with her.

She noticed he was acting suspicious and she did the first thing that came to her mind.

"She took out her cell phone and actually pretended to be in a conversation with the phone up to her ear," said Montgomery County Police Capt. Paul Starks. "He didn't leave. At the point where she ended the conversation and started to walk upstairs, he attacked her, grabbed her cellphone, attempted to remove her pants and touched her inappropriately."

The suspect also exposed himself, according to police.

The victim's brother was home at the time, heard the commotion in the hallway and came outside to chase the suspect away. The suspect fled the area in a blue compact to mid-size four-door passenger vehicle.

The suspect is described as a black male in his early 30s, about 5'9" to 5'10" tall and weighs approximately 200 pounds. He has short hair and a beard. He was last seen wearing a teal or dark blue sweatshirt, blue jeans and black boots.

A $10,000 reward is being offered for information that will lead to an arrest and indictment in this case. Anyone with information about the suspect is asked to call the Special Victims Investigations Division at 240-773-5400. Those who want to stay anonymous can contact Crime Solvers of Montgomery County at 240-773-TIPS (8477) or Text-A-Tip to: CRIMES (274637), text MCPD and your crime tip.