Groping Suspect Still At Large

Los Angeles police are searching for a man suspected of groping women on the Silver Lake Reservoir trail, and the suspect had not been arrested as of April 23. (lapdonline.org, cbsnews.com) The Los Angeles Police Department said a 25-year-old woman reported that a man came up from behind and groped her breast area around 8:45 p.m. on March 25 before running off. A second woman, 33, reported a similar attack at about 5 p.m. on April 18 while she was exercising near Silver Lake Meadows. (ktla.com, cbsnews.com) Police described the suspect as a Hispanic or Asian man with a large build and said both victims told detectives he approached from behind and fled in an unknown direction. Northeast Area Sexual Assault detectives are asking additional victims and witnesses to come forward. (ktla.com, cbsnews.com) The case widened after women began posting warnings around the reservoir and sharing accounts online. NBC Los Angeles reported on April 22 that at least three women had publicly described separate groping attacks at the popular walking and jogging loop. (nbclosangeles.com) That public alarm pushed a visible police response at one of Silver Lake’s busiest outdoor spaces. LAPD said Northeast Division added uniformed officers and foot patrols around the reservoir, and Capt. Mike Bland told NBC Los Angeles the department was using senior lead officers across shifts to keep a high profile in the area. (ktla.com, nbclosangeles.com) Residents told local television stations they had changed how they use the path after dark. One Silver Lake resident told ABC7 she was sticking to the better-lit side of the reservoir, while another said she no longer felt comfortable visiting the dog park alone. (abc7.com) The LAPD listed the case in its newsroom on April 21 under “Silver Lake Reservoir Sexual Batteries” and posted a second item on April 22 seeking additional sexual assault victims. That sequence shows detectives moved from announcing two reported incidents to publicly asking whether more women had been targeted. (lapdonline.org) Anyone with information is asked to contact Northeast Area Sexual Assault Detective Supervisor Michelle Gomez at 323-561-3272, according to LAPD and CBS Los Angeles. For now, the man police say targeted women at the reservoir remains unidentified. (cbsnews.com, nbclosangeles.com)