Police Warn of Man Touching Women on Columbia Pathways

Police have received three reports of a man touching women inappropriately on Columbia bike and walking paths and then running off. 

Police said the first incident occurred on a footpath near Old Montgomery Road on Aug. 7 when a woman was grabbed from behind as she was jogging. On Aug. 9, a woman was jogging near Majors Lane, when a man ran past her and touched her inappropriately, police said. The most recent incident was reported on Aug. 25 when a man talking on a cell phone touched a woman as she walked in the area of Oakland Mills Road near Dobbin Road, according to police.

Police described the suspect as a black male in his 20s or 30s with short hair, clean shaven, medium build, about 5-foot-10, 170 pounds, seen wearing running gear in one incident and a white polo-style shirt in another.

Police said they are increasing bike patrols on pathways in response to the incident. Police also believe there are others who may be victims that have not reported incidents to police. Officials are asking them to come forward.

There was another incident on Aug. 15, not believed to be related, when a male teenager grabbed a woman's arm as she was jogging near Iron Bridge Road in Jessup. Police described the teenager as a white male, about 16, with blonde hair and wearing a gray t-shirt, khaki shorts and Nike shoes.