Continue reading

The Springfield groper struck for the third time in two days Thursday evening, the 14th incident in what Fairfax County Police say is connected to a man who has been assaulting women since September.

The most recent incident happened at about 5:45 p.m. Thursday night, when a 43-year-old woman was grabbed from behind and fondled in the 6000 block of Hibbling Avenue. The suspect, described as a man in a black jacket and dark pants, fled after she yelled at him.

“It’s really kind of scary,” says Gayatri Basant, a neighbor. “We all work different shifts around here.”

Just hours earlier, police say that the suspect's 13th attack happened just about a block away, near the corner of Floyd Avenue and Erving Street. This is also the second time that the suspected groper has struck on Hibbling Avenue; on Nov. 1, another assault was reported on the same block.

Fairfax County Police say that another connected assault was reported on Blarney Stone Drive on Tuesday morning.

Connected assaults in this case date back to early September.

“I think it’s a shame,” says Ron Anderson. “This is like home.”