NORCROSS, Ga. (WXIA) – The scene of Thursday morning's attack was at a bus stop directly below a street light. Norcross Police say the area is well lit and there is plenty of traffic at that hour on Jimmy Carter Boulevard.
The very bold suspect still picked that spot to go after a woman who fought back.
Instead of finding her usual 7:15 bus, Rev. Harriet Bradley arrived at the bus stop to find crime scene tape, police officers – and in the back of a patrol car, the victim of a sexual assault.
"I saw this big knot on her face, and she had a white cloth, and she was tapping it," Bradley said. "And I asked if she was okay."
Bradley just missed an encounter with the suspect.
Norcross Police said they believe he is responsible for two sexual assaults. Just after 6 a.m. Thursday, a surveillance camera was watching as the suspect walked toward the bus stop on Jimmy Carter Boulevard. A woman waiting there told detectives the stocky Hispanic man with broken English grabbed her from behind, threw her to the ground and struck her repeatedly. Then, she said, he tried to drag her away.
"Fortunately, she was able to pepper spray him with some type of mace or pepper spray," said Fannie Clark.
A different security camera showed the man running away.
From her shop, Clark can see the bus stop, and now, the crime scene tape.
"I'll be more cautions going in and out, and talk to my customers coming and out of here," she said.
Police said they believe the suspect sexually assaulted another woman as she walked to work along Jimmy Carter Boulevard in the same area.
Note his distinctive walk on the surveillance video – and look at all of the headlights from all of the traffic on Jimmy Carter Boulevard, just a few feet from the scene of the Thursday morning attack.
Bradley said she would like to see even more lighting around her bus stop, but says it will not keep her away.
"I'll be fine," she said. "The Lord will protect me."
Police said the suspect is likely still feeling the effects of that pepper spray, and still may have swollen red eyes. They are searching hotels and apartment complexes for anyone matching the description.
