Woman sexually assaulted in Dupont Circle neighborhood, DC police say

WASHINGTON - D.C. police are searching for a man who sexually assaulted a woman in her Dupont Circle neighborhood.

Police said the first-degree sex abuse happened in the 2100 block of Newport Place in Northwest D.C. just before 11 p.m. Sunday as the woman was walking in the area.

According to the police report, the suspect approached the victim from behind. He then proceeded to reach under her skirt and sexually assault her before running off.

This is not the first incident of this kind in the area. There have been at least 11 sexual assault incidents in the Georgetown and Dupont Circle areas that have occurred over the last five months. Police said they are looking into whether this most recent incident is connected to any of the previous assaults.

The suspect is described as a white male, 5-feet-7 inches tall. with a medium build. He was wearing a beige hooded shirt, brown khaki shorts and a baseball hat.

An organization called INCITE DC has shared some tips for women when it comes to protecting yourself while out alone.

- Always carry yourself assertively and attempt to make eye contact in case you need to identify a suspect.
- Avoid aggressive responses to prevent escalating a situation to a dangerous one.
- If verbally harassed, don't ignore it. Speak up.

These are just suggestions that could be applied no matter where you live, but contacting authorities is important if you feel you are in danger.

If you have any information regarding this sexual assault is asked to call D.C. police at 202-727-9099. Tips can also be submitted to the text tip line by sending a text message to 50411.