On the morning of Tuesday, Oct. 11, not much seemed out of the ordinary along Blake Lane. There were pet owners walking their dogs, joggers going for a morning run and student’s sleepily walking to school. For one student however, an encounter with a stranger threw her into a whirlwind of panic. According to MY FOXDC, the 16-year-old was walking along Blake Lane, near the intersection with Palmer Street, when a man standing on the sidewalk engaged her in conversation. He asked her for directions and that she follow him to his car so he could retrieve something to write them down on. He proceeded to ask the student to sit inside his car after saying he didn’t have anything to write with. When she refused, he attempted to force her into the seat. Fearlessly, the student fought her way out of her attacker’s grasp and sprinted to safety. The victim described the suspect’s vehicle as a white, four-door sub-compact with a “baby-on-board” sign on the driver’s side. The suspect was depicted as a possibly Hispanic male in his early-to-mid 20s with a thin build, short black hair and an eyebrow piercing.
Three days passed without another incident, but on Friday, Oct. 14, the assailant was back. According to NBC Washington, two more female students were approached by a stranger matching the description of the first attacker on their walk home from school along Blake Lane. This time, however, the students were prepared. When the male pulled up in his white sub-compact, a vehicle matching that of the first assailant, the girls screamed, and the stranger hurriedly drove away. The girls left the scene unharmed.
All members of the Oakton community were equally shaken by the incident.
“[When I heard], I was upset,” recalled Student Resource Officer Darrell Estess. “There’s somebody just not doing the right thing and preying on our students.”
According to Estess, the Fair Oaks District Station has not taken the situation lightly.
“We’ve had extra patrols by the Fair Oaks district station,” Estess said. “There are not only officers that are out on regular patrol, but officers on patrol just for that reason.”
Although there’s been an increase in patrols in the area, Estess emphasizes the importance of students looking out for their own safety as well.
“Don’t walk alone,” warns Estess. “Pay attention to your surroundings; make sure if you’re listening to your iPod to only put one ear bud in your ear so you can still hear what’s going on, and just pay attention. If something does happen, however, report it immediately.”
Students, however, don’t seem all that concerned.
“The whole situation is kind of creepy, but I haven’t really considered not walking anymore,” commented walker Natalie Eberhart, sophomore. “I just can’t imagine that kind of thing happening to me. I like to think I’d know how to handle myself if I got into that situation.”
Whether or not you feel you’re in danger, it’s important to remember the assailant is still on the loose and so you should continue to take all the necessary precautions to ensure your personal safety.
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