Man attacks woman in Village parking lot

Plice are searching for a man who attempted to molest an

18-year-old woman in the parking lot between Phillips Avenue and Craven Lane on Monday.
By: Lea Kahn
   Township police are searching for a man who attempted to molest an 18-year-old woman in the parking lot between Phillips Avenue and Craven Lane, in the Village of Lawrenceville, on Monday afternoon.
   The woman had just left TJ’s Pizzaria through the Phillips Avenue exit at 3:30 p.m. and started to cross the street to the parking lot where she had parked her car, Lt. Thomas Ritter said. She saw the man turn the corner from Main Street onto Phillips Avenue as she was crossing the street.
   The woman continued walking toward her car and the man began walking behind her, Lt. Ritter said. As she was unlocking her car, the man grabbed her from behind and put his hands on her chest. As she moved, he grabbed her thighs, Lt. Ritter said.
   At that point, the woman screamed for him to get off of her, Lt. Ritter said. The man ran west toward George Street and out of sight. The woman suffered scratches, but was otherwise uninjured. No weapons were shown, according to reports.
   "The suspect said something to her in Spanish, but it is not known what was said," Lt. Ritter said.
   The area was checked for the man, but police could not find him, the lieutenant said.
   The man was described as Hispanic, about 5 feet 6 inches tall and about 25 to 30 years old. He has a medium build and "a large mid-section," with short dark hair, Lt. Ritter said. He had dirt underneath his fingernails, according to reports and was wearing a baggy red short-sleeved shirt, long blue jeans and white sneakers with Velcro snaps.
   Police are asking witnesses to the incident, or anyone who may have seen a person matching the suspect’s description, to call the Lawrence Township Police Department at (609) 896-1111.