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Police request help identifying suspect in attempted Wertland Street abduction

Charlottesville Police share photos of person of interest

<p>Photos of the person of interest in the reported attempted abduction on Wertland Street were included in a recent release from Charlottesville Police.&nbsp;</p>

Photos of the person of interest in the reported attempted abduction on Wertland Street were included in a recent release from Charlottesville Police. 

The Charlottesville Police Department is asking for the public’s help in identifying a “person of interest” connected with an attempted abduction that was reported to have taken place on Oct. 27 on Wertland Street. 

“We are asking for the public’s assistance in identifying the following person of

Interest,” a release from the department read. “The individual is a white male who was seen wearing a dark two-toned hooded jacket, dark pants, and a green camouflage style baseball hat.”

The release included several photos of the suspect. 

It was previously reported that a female was walking on Wertland Street early in the morning on Oct. 27 when “an unknown male approached her from behind, covered her mouth, and took her to the ground,” according to a University-wide email from University Chief of Police Michael Gibson.  

The release from Charlottesville Police said they believe the incident occurred at 1115 Wertland Street on Oct. 27 at 1:45am.

The suspect threatened the victim, fled the scene after a passerby heard the victim’s screams.

This was not the only attempted abduction in Charlottesville recently.  A similar situation was reported the evening of Oct. 29, when a woman on West Water Street was attacked when a man approached her from behind and covered her mouth. The man then fled. 

Charlottesville Police Lt. Steve Upman said that authorities do not believe the two incidents to be related. 

“At this time we don't believe they are related,” Upman said. “The suspect in the Wertland Street incident was described as a white male, the suspect in the Water Street incident was described as a black male. However, as investigators move forward in their case, they’ll compare notes just to make sure nothing is missed.”

Authorities encourage anyone with additional information about either incident is asked to contact the Charlottesville Police Department or Crime Stoppers at 434-977-4000.

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