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WABC: Sketch Released in Westfield Sexual Assault Case

The sketch of the man's accomplice is still being composed, police say.

 

Police released a sketch of one of the two men accused of having kidnapped and sexually assaulted a 20-year-old woman near a Westfield park, WABC reported Wednesday evening.

The sketch, which the news channel said was developed by state police sketch artists, depicts the white male who the woman said forced her off of South Chestnut Street at around 4 a.m. Monday and into a white minivan driven by a black male. WABC said that the state police is still working on a sketch of the black male.

In a press conference with Patch and other media Tuesday evening, Police Chief John Parizeau said the victim, a Cranford resident, was walking alone on her way home from a friend's house in Westfield when she was attacked. She was walking near Gumbert Park, in the direction of North Avenue, at the time of the attack.

Police Captain David Wayman, in an interview with Patch on Monday, said that the victim said that once in the van, the two men stole $450 in cash and two credit cards from the woman, while trying to remove her clothing and sexually assaulting her. Parizeau said that the woman, who declined a rape test and to talk with a rape crisis counselor, was the victim of "criminal sexual assault" and not rape. Police have not said what type of criminal sexual assault is alleged in this case.

The woman escaped the minivan at the first opportunity, while it was still parked on South Chestnut. Once she was out of the car, the two men drove away. Parizeau said the woman then called her father who picked her up and brought her to the Westfield police department.

Police said that the matter remains under investigation and witnesses should contact 908-789-4000 with any information.

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