Sexual Assault Reported at Cape May Point State Park

ERMA — On Thur., July 1 at approximately 8:25 a.m., Lower Township Police Communications Center received a 9-1-1 call from a man reporting he was calling from his cell phone, and reported that he was walking the Nature Trails at the Cape May Point State Park, (which is located in Lower Township’s jurisdiction,) when he came across an hysterical female who was crying and told him that she had just been assaulted.
Lower Township and Cape May Police Officers immediately responded to the area, along with the Cape May Fire Rescue, to evaluate the victim.
Investigation on scene by Lower Township Detectives determined that the 39-year-old female had been walking the Nature Trails and was sitting at one of the wooden lean-tos, overlooking a pond, when she was approached by a male subject.
The subject then grabbed the victim and threw her to the ground, at which time he inappropriately grabbed and touched her with his hands before fleeing the area.
The suspect is described as a white male, approximately 25 to 35 years old, approximately 5’5” to 5’6” tall, with a thin build. Suspect was described as having a full head of brown wavy hair and was clean shaven.
The suspect was wearing red shorts and a white plain t-shirt at the time. The type of footwear worn by the suspect, if any, was not reported.
The Lower Township Police Department immediately relayed the suspect’s description to the Cape May Beach Patrol and the Cape May Point Beach Patrol and advised the beach patrols to forward the description to all of their Beach Badge Checkers as well.
Lower Township and Cape May Police Officers are continuing to search for the suspect in the area where the assault took place.
The victim was transported to Cape Regional Medical Center by Cape May Fire Rescue for further evaluation.
The incident is currently under investigation by the Lower Township Patrol Division and the Detective Division, with the assistance of the Cape May Police Department and NJ State Park Police.
Anyone with information regarding this incident, should contact the Lower Township Detective Division at 886-1619, extension 156 or Cape May County Crime Stoppers at 609-465-2800. All information will remain confidential and may be reported anonymously.