Suspect sought in Niles sexual assault

Published 5:08 pm Tuesday, November 26, 2013

Video surveillance captured this image of a suspect in the sexual assault of a teenage girl in Niles Township Monday.

Video surveillance captured this image of a suspect in the sexual assault of a teenage girl in Niles Township Monday.

Police are asking for help in locating a suspect who sexually assaulted a 14-year-old girl in Niles Charter Township Monday.

According to the Berrien County Sheriff’s Department, the victim was walking east on River Road near the intersection of Red Bud Trail in the city of Buchanan at approximately 4:05 p.m. A male in his mid 20s to mid 30s driving a four door dark colored vehicle picked up the victim and sexually assaulted her in two different locations in the Niles Township area. The victim was then dropped off near a mobile home park in the Buchanan area.

She was treated and released by Lakeland Hospital in Niles that evening.

Police said an image of the suspect and the suspect’s vehicle was captured on video at a BP Gas Station at Red Bud and River Road.

The suspect is described as being between the heights of 5-foot-8 and 5-10 and approximately 240 pounds. He has brown hair and brown eyes.

The suspect vehicle is believed to be a late 90s to early 2000s Pontiac Sedan or, possibly, a Grand Am or Bonneville. It is dark in color (most likely blue or black) with a rear spoiler on the trunk. The vehicle also had a baby seat in the back seat.

The Berrien County Sheriff’s Department is asking for any help in identifying the individual or vehicle in the photos.

Those with information should contact the Berrien County Sheriff’s Department by phone at (269) 983-7141 ext. 6287 or ext. 6242, by email at detectives@berriencounty.org or call CRIMESTOPPERS at 1-800-342-7867.