Assault Of Woman In Somerville May Be Connected To Prior Incidents

SOMERVILLE (CBS) - A third recent assault Thursday night in Somerville has police concerned.

A 23-year-old woman was walking near Holyoke Road late Thursday night when she was grabbed from behind and indecently assaulted. She screamed and the suspect ran away.

Police said this most-recent assault similar to other recent attacks in Somerville, including one on Oct. 5 and another on Sept. 10.

WBZ-TV's Jim Smith reports.

Authorities believe the same man may be responsible.

"In all of these cases, he approaches the victim from behind and there's a struggle, and that is similar to several other incidents, where the suspect was similarly dressed and approached women in the same manner," said Dep. Chief Paul Upton of the Somerville Police Department.

Somerville police have been proactive in their response to the assault, contacting several police departments in neighboring communities and colleges.

Anyone with information is asked to call Somerville police.