Cpl. Bart Veal

Public Information Officer

903-798-3187 (office) 903-798-2368 (pager)

903-824-4199 (cell) 903-798-3023 (fax)

Texarkana Arkansas Police Badge

Re: Women Victim’s of Early Morning Attacker.

On Wednesday 09/15/04 at 6:15am Officers responded to a call of robbery. A 64 year-old white female in the 1500 block of County was leaving for work when a black male grabbed her from behind and knocked her to the ground, while attempting to pull her purse away from her. The suspect was successful and fled south with the victim’s purse. The victim suffered from minor bruising and a laceration to her hand.

This incident was similar to another crime that occurred on Monday 09/13/04 at 5:36am in the 600 block of East 6th St. A 43 year-old black female had just exited her vehicle at work when she was grabbed from behind by a black male. She used pepper spray on the suspect and when he let her go she did not look back and ran into the building where she works.

No official connection has been made between these two cases but both have clear similarities.

The suspect is described as a black male 509 to 600 possible wearing dark clothing during at least one of the attacks. He usually approaches the victims from behind and the crimes have occurred in the early morning hours.

The Texarkana Arkansas Police Department is asking for your help. If you or anyone you know has information about these crimes please call the Texarkana Arkansas Police Department at 903-798-3130 or Crime Stoppers at 903-793-7867 (STOP).

Please call if you or someone you know had been in contact with a man suffering from the effects of pepper spray last Monday.

There are many ways for women to prevent being a victim and escape an attacker. One of these methods, the use of pepper spray, was successful in one of these cases and the media is free to contact me for further information about prevention and escape methods. You can also visit our website for information http://www.txkusa.org/arkpolice.