Woman fights off attacker at apartment complex

The State Police Major Crime Squad is investigating the attack. Photo by Brenda Sullivan.

The attack occured at Walden Apartments where the majority of the tenants are UConn students. To date, UConn Police have not posted an alert.

The State Police Major Crime Squad is still looking for a man who reportedly attacked a woman at Walden Apartments - a complex at 70 Pinney Hill Road in Willington, where the majority of the tenants are University of Connecticut students.

On Sunday, Sept. 28 at about 6:18 p.m., State Police Troop C received a call from a 20-year-old female who said she had just fought off a man with a gun who attempted to enter her car.

The victim - whose name is being withheld for her protection - was sitting in her car outside the cluster of mailboxes that serve the complex, reading her mail, "when a white male with a handgun attempted to gain access to her vehicle," the police report states. "The victim was able to push the suspect from the vehicle, and the suspect fled on foot."

State police combed the area with the help of a police dog, and called in additional manpower.

Walden Apartments Manager Nick Totonis said today that he has been telling tenants who come to his office "to be cautious," but that no written notice has been posted or distributed to tenants. "I think most of them know. The police knocked on everyone's door that night, and the next day," he said.

Totonis said he's also been in contact with the University of Connecticut Police Department, but as of today, there was no alert posted on the UConn Police Web site. Calls to the UConn Police on Thursday and Friday were not returned as of 6 p.m. on Friday, Oct. 10.

The suspect is described as a white male, approximately 5' 9" tall with a thin build, weighing maybe 130-150 lbs, with a light complexion and brown eyes.

At the time of the assault, he was wearing a black knit mask that covered his nose and lower face, the report states. He was dressed in a black, hooded sweatshirt, blue jeans and a black canvas vest.

State Police Major Crime detectives have been assigned to the investigation.

Anyone with information that could help the investigation is asked to call State Police at (860) 896-3234 or can make an anonymous tip via Text a Tip, to CRIMES (274673) and text "TIP711" plus your message.

Posted Oct. 10, 2008