Police question person of interest in sex assault

June 29, 2009 (CHICAGO) (WLS) -- A woman was attacked and sexually assaulted in an alley on Chicago's Northwest Side Monday. It's an area that's had a series of attacks on women in recent months.

The Monday morning assault happened at 2148 North Damen Avenue.

Police were questioning a person of interest on Monday night. The man was picked up very early Monday morning, caught in the act of sexually assaulting a woman. He was also caught on camera.

The rape took place in a dark alley at 3:30 Monday morning.

The alley is behind Harry Kozlowski's condo building in Bucktown.

"There was a shoe in the alley and a shoe laying a little farther away. I tried to see what was going on, if we were safe here...they said everything is fine, they think they got the guy," said Kozlowski.

Chicago police said on Monday night that they have a person of interest being interviewed for a criminal sexual assault.

Melissa Molina, who works at Fruit Flowers, says there were images of the suspect caught on cameras.

"I personally wouldn't walk down an alley at 3:00 in the morning. I think I'm pretty tough but I wouldn't take that chance," said Molina.

Police have issued community alerts about other similar sexual attacks in the area in recent months; one in the 2100-block of North Maplewood in September, on e in the 2300-block of W. Moffat and one in the 1700-block of North Marshfield. Police are still trying to determine if this suspect is behind all the attacks.

Elizabeth Bos lives right behind the area where the attacks occurred.

"We have been hearing about rapings in the area, but to know it happened right next to home, it was very scary," said Bos.

No charges have been filed and police have not commented on the condition of the victim.

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local, kevin roy

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