Suspect Sought in Columbia Sexual Assault

Columbia Police are searching for a man who allegedly forced a woman to perform a sex act on him near North Main Street on Aug. 17.

The victim told officers that the man asked her several times to get in his car as she walked along the 5900 block of Main Street shortly after 5 a.m. on Aug. 17, according to a news release.

The victim said after she repeatedly told the man no she agreed to get in the car, interim Police Chief Ruben Santiago said. The suspect then drove to the 4800 block of Muir Street and allegedly held a gun to her head, forcing her to perform sexual acts on him.

The victim was able to get out of the car after telling the suspect she was becoming physically ill, the release said. When the suspect pulled the car over to the side of the road, the victim escaped and hid until she saw the man drive away.

The victim called 911 and was taken to a local hospital, police said.

The victim describes the suspect as being a thin, black male possibly between the ages of 40 and 50 years old with a dark complexion, an oval-shaped face, and a bald head, according to the release.

The suspect also appeared to have some scarring on his checks, the victim said, and had several gold crowns on his teeth.

The man was last seen wearing a navy blue shirt with a yellow ‘crest-like shield’ emblem or symbol with light colored blue jeans and possibly boots. The suspect’s car is described as a “newer model” red sedan. 

The suspect should be considered armed and dangerous, police said.

Police released a sketch Tuesday of the what the suspect may look like. 

Anyone with information about the alleged sexual assault or the identity of the suspect, call Crimestoppers at 1-888-CRIME-SC.