NIAGARA FALLS, N.Y. (WKBW) — The Niagara Falls Police Department issued a warning to the public over the weekend after two recent sexual assaults.
Police said in a social media post on October 8, more than two weeks after the first incident, that the two cases have not been positively connected but there are similarities among them.
The first occurred around 11:30 p.m. on September 19 near the Pine Plaza at the corner of Niagara Falls Boulevard and Military Road. Police said a woman was sexually assaulted by an armed man in the parking lot and the suspect then walked away toward Military Road.
The second incident occurred around 8 p.m. on October 6 in the Tops parking lot on Portage Road. Police said a teen was a teen was sexually assaulted by an armed man in the parking lot and the suspect then walked away. The suspect was last seen walking on Ashland Avenue.
Police described the suspect as being a Hispanic or Black male possibly in his 20s with a light complexion, medium build, and approximate height of 5'7" to 5'11" tall. He was last seen wearing a dark hoody, dark pants, and a backpack with a dark facemask.
7 News was in Niagara Falls on Monday and spoke with John Conti, Captain of the Niagara Falls Police Department. “Everyone be vigilant, especially in these circumstances," said Conti.
As the search for the suspect(s) continues about three weeks later, 7 News was back in Niagara Falls on Tuesday looking for more answers.
We know this is an important safety issue you want addressed, that's why we tried to speak with police again and the Niagara Falls mayor about why it took so long for a safety warning to be released.
No one was able to sit down for an interview. At the police station, we were told nobody was available to discuss the case and at the mayor's office, we were told he was in meetings and not available to talk.
But we did speak with neighbors and an antiviolence group who said they wish they knew about the assaults much sooner.
Bryant Brown Junior is with SNUG, a group working to prevent violence in Niagara Falls, he said he had a meeting with police Tuesday morning and they didn't even mention the investigation. He said it's concerning that the police did not mention the investigation and he will have to have a follow-up discussion.
