Crime & Safety

Franconia District Commander: Lorton May Have a 'Copycat Groper'

Captain Jim Baumstark and First Lieutenant William Jacoby discussed crime in the Franconia District during Wednesday night's CAC meeting.

While discussing crime in the Kingstowne and Franconia area Wednesday night at the Citizen Advisory Committee (CAC) meeting, Captain Jim Baumstark — Franconia District Police Station commander — explained that recent assaults in Lorton may be the work of a possible "copycat serial groper."

Like the suspect(s) in the Springfield assaults, the suspect in the multiple assaults in Lorton has not been apprehended. The Springfield area has seen a string of 24 unsolved assaults by a serial groper or possibly two suspects that began in September. The latest took place in late March in Kingstowne.

In the most recent incident in Lorton, a 31-year-old woman was approached from behind at around 10:45 a.m. April 10, while walking near Timarand Court and Timarand Drive. The suspect touched the victim inappropriately, then fled and was not located by officers. The victim was not injured.

Find out what's happening in Lortonwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Baumstark said the description of the suspect in the Lorton assaults is completely different, while the suspect has been described differently in the Springfield assaults as well. FCPD believes it's just one guy in Lorton while they are not sure if they're looking for more than one suspect in the series of assaults in Springfield.

Multiple police units with the Franconia District Police Station are dedicating more time to the area in Springfield where the series of assaults have been occurring since September. 

Find out what's happening in Lortonwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

The last incident in the series of Springfield assaults occurred in the HomeGoods in Kingstowne on March 28, and Baumstark said they're still on the fence about whether it's the same guy. According to police reports for the incident, the victim reported the assault to HomeGoods employees who then followed the suspect in the store before he left, then called the police.

"We're not completely sure it's the same guy because it's not really his M.O. These assaults are happening in the middle of the day, on public streets, but that's not to say he hasn't changed," Baumstark said.

FCPD is still investigating the series of assaults in Springfield as well as the separate assaults in Lorton. Police are still asking for the community's assistance in identifying the suspect on the video from the HomeGoods incident.

Once the suspect in the Springfield assaults is caught, Baumstark said police will be able to make connections with the different locations for each incident.

See a map of the incidents here.

Other Crime Updates from Franconia District

Parking Enforcement Officer Nevien Tadross also took questions during Wednesday's meeting on parking issues in the Franconia District which many residents felt passionate about. First Lieutenant William Jacoby — assistant commander — said parking is one of the biggest issues in the district.

Because of the change in weather, Baumstark and Jacoby warned that there may be an increase in juvenile crimes in the Franconia District area.

"It's getting warmer, so they're not in their basements playing Xbox because it's too cold to go outside," Baumstark said.

Baumstark and Jacoby recommended residents lock their car doors and report suspicious behavior. They also suggested calling the non-emergency number as a precaution if they see or hear children outside after dark.

The police are also warning about a possible increase in motorcycle thefts now that it's getting warmer outside. They also suggest that residents call police if they see solicitors in the neighborhood without a license.

During Wednesday's meeting, the CAC also honored PFC Shannon Sams and PFC Scott Reever as the officers of the quarter for their work apprehending Joshua T. Franklin, the suspect in a New Year's rape incident.

See also:

State Delegate to Police: Why Are Serial Groper Incidents 'Simple Assault,' Not Sexual Assault?


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