News Releases

Detectives Arrest Suspect for Wheaton Sexual Offenses

For Immediate Release: Friday, February 19, 2016

Detectives from the Montgomery County Police Department - Special Victims Investigations Division have arrested William Brown, Jr., age 21, of Ferrara Drive in Wheaton and have charged him with committing sexual offenses against three victims.  The three incidents and the criminal charges associated with each incident are as follows:

• On February 4 at approximately 9:00 a.m., the 33-year-old victim was using the self- checkout at the Safeway store located at 11201 Georgia Avenue.  Brown approached the victim and began touching her inappropriately.  The victim began to resist and Brown fled from the area. Charges: Fourth Degree Sex Offense, Second Degree Assault

• On February 5 at approximately 8:20 a.m., the 30-year-old victim was placing her groceries in her vehicle after shopping at the Safeway store located at 11201 Georgia Avenue; her vehicle was parked in the parking garage located under the store.  Brown approached the victim and began touching her inappropriately.  He grabbed her and attempted to push her inside the vehicle.  The victim began to struggle and fell to the ground.  Brown fled from the area when an unknown person entered the parking area.  The victim suffered a broken finger.  Charges: Attempted Second Degree Rape, Fourth Degree Sex Offense, Second Degree Assault

• On February 10 at approximately 8:30 a.m., the 22-year-old victim was walking on the sidewalk in the area of the Mid-County Regional Services center (located at 2424 Reedie Drive) when Brown approached her from behind, touched her inappropriately, and attempted to pull down her pants.  The victim was able to break free from Brown and he fled from the area. Charges: Attempted Second Degree Rape, Fourth Degree Sex Offense, Second Degree Assault

The victims provided detectives with a physical description of the suspect.  Investigators, using that description, located video surveillance that captured a possible suspect in the areas and during the times of the three assaults.

On February 11, detectives from the Special Victims Investigations Division and other undercover officers began conducting surveillance in the area of the previous assaults.  Officers observed a male matching the suspect description enter the Safeway store where two of the incidents had occurred. The subject was detained by officers and he was identified as Brown, Jr.

Brown, Jr. was interviewed and confirmed that he was the person in the surveillance video obtained by detectives.  Brown, Jr. stated to investigators that he "bumped" into a female in the garage; his description of the female matched the February 5 victim's description.

Brown was transported to the Central Processing Unit and is being held on a $100,000 bond.

Detectives believe that there may be additional victims of Brown's criminal conduct who have not reported the incidents to police. Anyone who has information regarding a sexual offense involving William Brown. Jr. is asked to contact the Montgomery County Police-Special Victims Investigations Division at 240-773-5050.

RLI

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Release ID: 16-035
Media Contact: mcpnews 
Categories: assault, sexual-offense