BRIDGEWATER TOWNSHIP, NJ (Somerset County) – Authorities are investigating a robbery and assault that occurred on the path behind the Blessed Sacrament Church on Washington Valley Road in Bridgewater Township on Sunday morning, according to Somerset County Prosecutor John P. McDonald.
On July 9, at around 9:54 a.m., police received a 9-1-1 call reporting a theft in progress behind Blessed Sacrament Church on Washington Valley Road. Upon arrival, officers met with an adult female from Bridgewater Township, who reported being assaulted by an unknown man while walking the path behind the church, McDonald said.
The victim reported while walking the path behind the church, the suspect came up behind her and placed his hands over her eyes and mouth. The victim began to struggle with the suspect, McDonald said.
The victim and suspect fell to the ground, where the suspect took the victim’s cellular telephone and fled the area. The victim chased after the suspect observing him enter a dark colored SUV and leave the area, McDonald said.
The victim described the suspect as a light skinned male, approximately 5 feet 5 inches tall, with an average build, in his 30’s or 40’s, wearing a button-down short-sleeve shirt, white t-shirt, shorts, and a hat, McDonald said.
A subsequent search of the area, detectives located and recovered the victim’s cellular telephone, McDonald said.
“The investigation has determined this to be an isolated incident limited to the area of the path behind the Blessed Sacrament Church and did not involve any services or parishioners of the church at the time of this incident,” McDonald said.
This on-going investigation is being conducted by the Somerset County Prosecutor’s Office and the Bridgewater Township Police Department.
Anyone with information relating to the assault to contact the Somerset County Prosecutors Office Sex Crimes Unit at 908-231-7100 or the Bridgewater Township Police Department at 908-722-4111 or via the STOPit app. The STOPit app allows citizens to provide anonymous reports including videos and photos. STOPit can be downloaded to your smart phone for free at the Google Play Store or Apple App Store, access code: SOMERSETNJ. Information can also be provided through the Somerset County Crime Stoppers’ Tip Line at 1-888-577-TIPS (8477). All anonymous STOPit reports, and Crime Stopper tips will be kept confidential.
