The Metropolitan Police Department is seeking the public's assistance in helping to identify and locate a subject possibly responsible for two sexyual assaults.

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At approximately 6:30 am, on Thursday, January 26, 2006, a 33-year-old female had just exited a bus, in the 2600 block of <?xml:namespace prefix = st1 /?>Bowen Road, SE, when she was approached by an armed subject who forced her into the rear of 2605 Bowen Road, SE.  The woman struggled with the suspect, who struck her with a handgun before she managed to escape. She was treated and released from an area hospital.

At approximately 6:50 am that same day, a 19-year-old woman, waiting for a bus in the 2900 block of Stanton Road, SE, was assaulted by a subject who dragged her into a wooded area.  There he sexually assaulted her before fleeing. She was taken to an area hospital, and treated and released.

The suspect in these cases is generally described as a black male in his late teens or twenties, approximately 5'6" tall, 145 to 150 pounds, with a medium to dark complexion, wearing all black clothing and armed with a handgun. Detectives are investigating the possibility that the same suspect may be responsible for both assaults.

Anyone with information about this case is asked to call police at (202) 727-9099 or the department's Crime Solvers Unit at 1-800-673-2777.  All calls to Crime Solvers are confidential and anyone who calls Crime Solvers with information that leads to an arrest and indictment in this case will be eligible for a reward of up to $1,000.