The Bermuda Police Service can now confirm that at 8.25am today, Saturday May 28th 2011 a female reported that while jogging in the area of Paynters Road and Harrington Sound Road in Hamilton Parish she was accosted by a man on a motorcycle. A struggle ensued but she was able to escape and continued jogging east along Harrington Sound Road. On reaching the area near the Walsingham Lane and Harrington Sound Road a short time later, the same male accosted the female jogger again; however this time she received assistance from a passing motorist. The suspect escaped, but a full description of him and the motorcycle he was riding was circulated to all police patrols. The female jogger was not injured and is now assisting police with their investigations.   

Approximately 9am today police received a report of a woman in distress in the area of South Road, Smith’s Parish near Watch Hill Park. Officers responded within minutes of receiving this report. On arrival they located the victim who alerted them to a suspect in this case.

The male suspect was pursued on foot by police and despite attempting to evade arrest by jumping into the ocean, he was arrested a short time later on suspicion of sexual assault. A 29 year old man remains in police custody pending interview and a file will be prepared and forwarded to the office of the DPP for review.

The victim was treated at the scene for minor abrasions by EMTs. Assistance was also later provided by the Sexual Assault Response Team and an investigation into both of these matters is now being conducted by detectives attached to Southside Police Station. A police vehicle responding to the latter incident was involved in a single vehicle damage only collision on St. David’s Road in St. George’s. As a result the marked police car was extensively damaged; however no one was injured.

The Bermuda Police Service would like to reassure the Bermuda community that they are deeply concerned by the attack on these two women and are taking these investigations extremely seriously. We also take this opportunity to thank those members of the public that assisted the victims today which clearly demonstrates the caring nature of the majority of Bermuda’s citizens.

Police are appealing to any persons who witnessed or may have any information about these incidents to contact detectives at the Southside Police Station at telephone number 293-2222 or the independent, confidential Crime Stoppers Hotline at 800-TIPS (8477).