BETHESDA AWAITS ANSWERS IN ASSAULT, POSSIBLE SEXUAL ASSAULT OF CAPITAL CRESCENT TRAIL JOGGER SUNDAY NIGHT

Is there a rapist at large in Bethesda?

That's the No. 1 question around town this morning, after a 21-year-old woman was knocked unconscious and dragged into the woods off the Capital Crescent Trail early last night.

Police responded at 7:13 PM to a call at a trail access point on Brookeway Drive in the Sumner neighborhood of Bethesda.  They say the woman was jogging, and was struck from behind.

She then woke up in the woods.  This official account did not give any suggestion that the victim or any witnesses saw the assailant.

However, as I reported when I was the first media outlet to break this story last night, the original, anonymous tipster who initially reported the attack to the Coalition for the Capital Crescent Trail told them the assailant was on a bicycle, with a basket attached to the front.

Yet that detail was not mentioned in later accounts.  Nor was any description of the attacker released.

We hope to know more when police release their next statement today.

The attack is sure to spark more questions about trail safety.  Personally, I don't think any woman - or any man! - should be on the CCT after dark.  Especially alone.  That is extremely dangerous.

Stay tuned for further updates.

UNVERIFIED REPORT OF ASSAULT ON CAPITAL CRESCENT TRAIL TONIGHT

Breaking news:  The Coalition for the Capital Crescent Trail is forwarding an unverified citizen report of an assault and attempted rape on the trail tonight at 7:00 PM.

While awaiting any official confirmation of this from the police, I just want to pass along the description of the assailant:  male on a bicycle, with a basket on the front of the bike.

The specific location of the attack was not detailed, only that is was within the Montgomery County section of the trail.

I did receive two reader tips of police cars with sirens responding to something in Bethesda around that time, multiple units.

Stay tuned for updates as they become available.

U.S. STATE DEPT. CALLS ON BETHESDA'S GEORGETOWN BAGELRY TO PROVIDE BAGELS FOR FAMILIES OF AMBASSADOR CHRIS STEVENS, LIBYA CONSULATE VICTIMS AHEAD OF OBAMA-CLINTON CEREMONY

RIVER ROAD SHOP

"HONORED" TO

FILL A VIP

ORDER

Another Robert Dyer @ Bethesda Row Exclusive

Americans watching four flag-draped caskets being carried into an Andrews Air Force Base hangar to the strains of "Nearer My God to Thee," were likely unaware of a small role one Bethesda business played in the ceremonies.

Earlier Friday morning, U.S. State Department Chief of Protocol Capricia Marshall contacted Georgetown Bagelry, in the Kenwood Station shopping center in Bethesda.  Marshall asked if the bakery could fill a large order for Andrews Air Force Base.  Families of Ambassador J. Christopher Stevens and the other victims of the Libyan attacks - as well as government officials - were at the base, awaiting the arrival of their bodies via a C-17 cargo plane.

Marshall needed someone to provide food for those families and officials, while they waited at the base.  President Obama reportedly met the families privately prior to the hangar ceremony.

Not surprisingly, for a business that regularly offers discounts to servicemembers, Georgetown Bagelry gladly filled the rush order.  Owner Mary Beall Adler said "a lot of love" went into the bagels the shop's team delivered to Andrews Friday afternoon.  Adler said she and the staff were "honored to play such a small part in such an important and humbling event."

BETHESDA PHANTOM HUGGER MAY HAVE ATTACKED ANOTHER WOMAN IN GEORGETOWN

VICTIM DESCRIBES SIMILAR

METHODS, PHYSICAL

APPEARANCE OF PERP

IN EARLY SUNDAY A.M.

ASSAULT

Another Robert Dyer @ Bethesda Row Exclusive

It's hard to believe no one else noticed, but a widely-reported sexual assault in Georgetown this past Sunday could well have been the latest attack by the Phantom Hugger of Bethesda.

Sunday morning at 4 A.M., a woman was attempting to enter a residence in the 3200 block of Cherry Hill Lane N.W. in Georgetown.  A man snuck up behind her, and hugged and groped her from behind.  Sound familiar?

The victim screamed and the man fled.  Exactly the response of the Phantom Hugger in his 3 summer assaults in Bethesda.

Then get a load of the description of the assailant given by the victim:  White or Hispanic male, 5'9"-6', dark hair, thin, t-shirt and shorts.

The Bethesda Hugger was described as "White or Asian," which - if you know anything about Latin America - it is entirely possible for someone to be Latino and have Asian features.  Or for such a vague description of any kind to be given in the dark, and in a panic situation.  This "white or _______" description suggests none of the victims knew the exact background of the assailant.  So you add that to your list.

Then, take the height.  5'9"-6' is definitely within the range of the Bethesda Hugger, said to be up to 5'10" by his victims.  Check number two.

Dark hair?  Check.  Thin?  Check.

Finally, how about that wardrobe?  T-shirt and shorts for both the Bethesda and Georgetown assailants.

It's elementary, my dear Watson.

Certainly, there is a possibility that the Bethesda Phantom Hugger has struck again.  Perhaps feeling the heat of recent police scrutiny, he went to another jurisdiction.  It would be a good idea for the MPD and MCPD to compare notes, and perhaps something one department knows could help them close this case together.

TIPS TO AVOID BECOMING THE BETHESDA PHANTOM HUGGER'S NEXT VICTIM

Montgomery County Police have released the following list of tips for residents, after 3 women were attacked by a Phantom Hugger in Bethesda this summer.  Some of the hints are a bit anachronistic for the year 2012, but are standard and solid safety advice, to avoid an unwanted hug from this fellow:

1.  Do not walk/jog with earphones.  Don't be distracted by electronic devices to the extent that you are unaware of your surroundings.

2.  Carry a cellphone.  (I know very few people do, but...)

3.  Vary your walking/jogging route.

4.  Complete exercise/errands during daylight hours.  (Translation:  OMG!!  DON'T GO OUTSIDE AT NIGHT!!  Well, okay, I do think it's very good advice to jog or run during daylight hours, particularly if you are using a secluded trail).

I might add that, in downtown Bethesda - if you are new to the area - the safest places late at night are around Bethesda Row, and along St. Elmo and Norfolk Avenues near Union Jack's, Rock Bottom, Hanaro and BlackFinn.  Not only are these areas populated and pretty well lit, but county police are out in force there at night.

Since the Phantom Hugger's m.o. is to sneak up from behind, your best defense is to remain aware of your surroundings at all times.

PHANTOM HUGGER ATTACKING BETHESDA WOMEN, POLICE SEEK TIPS

Montgomery County Police report that a Phantom Hugger is on the loose in Bethesda.  In 3 incidents over the last 3 months, he has snuck up behind women and hugged them from behind.

One attack was near Walt Whitman HS around Landon Lane and Geranium Street.   The last two were in North Bethesda and Grosvenor.

The suspect is described as a thin, dark-haired white or Asian male, 18-22, 5'6"-5'10", and wearing a t-shirt and athletic shorts.

If you have any information about this case, call detectives at 301-657-0112, or remain anonymous at 1-866-411-TIPS.