Woman sexually assaulted at gunpoint after walking in park near uptown Charlotte

CHARLOTTE, N.C. (WBTV) - Detectives with the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department’s Sexual Assault Unit are asking for the public help identifying a man they say sexually assaulted a woman near uptown Charlotte.

The incident began around 4 p.m. Sunday in Frazier Park, near the 600 block of McNinch Street off of Morehead Street and near I-77.

Police say a 25-year-old woman was walking in the park when she was approached by a man and had a brief conversation with him. The man then pulled out a gun and demanded her personal property.

After taking her property, officials say, the man began to sexually assault her in an area just outside the park.

Police call it a crime of opportunity.

“Obviously he had a firearm so anybody was walking by themselves, especially this female, was a greater target,” Sgt. Alli Rooks said.

People who frequent Frazier Park are shocked to hear this happened without anyone noticing.

“When we’re walking through here we see people every few minutes,” one person said. “It’s hard to imagine something like that happening.”

It’s making some second guess their daily trips there.

“That’s gonna really make me consider not walking the dog in the park anymore,” one woman said.

The attacker is described as a thin, middle-aged black male with short black hair and a black beard. He was wearing a white or gray shirt and dark pants that were dirty.

CMPD held a press conference about the incident on Monday.

Investigators said the case is particularly concerning because rape cases involving strangers are very rare - especially in broad daylight.

A $1,000 reward is being offered for information that leads to an arrest in the case.

Sexual Assault Unit detectives are actively investigating the case and ask anyone in the community with information about the man or the case to contact Detective Cougill immediately at 704-336-6052.

The public can also leave information anonymously with Crime Stoppers at 704-334-1600 or http://charlottecrimestoppers.com/.

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