Md. man arrested for attempted rape, assault
SALISBURY, Md. – Police arrested a man on several charges, including attempted rape and assault, following two separate incidents early Sunday morning.
Police say they responded to the 200 block of Milford Street in Salisbury for a report of an attempted rape shortly before 3 a.m. On arrival, several involved people directed officers’ attention towards a male who was fleeing from the area. Officers began a foot pursuit with the man after he refused to stop, but he was quickly apprehended and identified as 25-year-old Jonathan Mbagwu of Hanover, MD.
Further investigation revealed that there had been two separate incidents involving Mbagwu. The first incident involved a 21-year-old female who reported that she was walking southbound on S. Salisbury Blvd when she was approached by Mbagwu, who reportedly put his hand in her rear pants pocket and began talking to her. The victim did not know Mbagwu and subsequently stopped walking with him and stayed in a well lit area for safety purposes. The victim continued to walk to her destination after seeing Mbagwu walk out of sight, but saw him again a short time later walking towards her at a face pace in the area of S. Salisbury Blvd and Canal Park Dr. The victim then ran towards S. Salisbury Blvd, but was tackled to the ground by Mbagwu, and because of statements and actions made by him, she believed he was trying to sexually assault her. A passerby stopped to help the victim and Mbagwu fled towards Canal Park Dr.
It was then learned that a short time after the first incident, Mbagwu approached an 18-year-old female who was walking with two other 18-year-old females in the area of Canal Park Dr and Honeysuckle Dr. Mbagwu started talking with the women and walked with them to the Milford Street area, during which he took personal property from one of the women and refused to give it back to her. Mbagwu also allegedly slapped one of the women on the buttocks, grabbed her from behind, and began groping her outside of her clothing. The other women then immediately called 9-1-1, while Mbagwu began walking away.
Mbagwu was charged with attempted first and second degree rape, third degree sex offense, two counts of fourth degree sex offense, first degree assault, two counts of second degree assault, failure to obey, and disorderly conduct. He was turned over to the Wicomico County Detention Center.
Salisbury Police are continuing to investigate, and they are asking anyone who may have been in the area at the time of these incidents or with more information to contact Crime Solvers at 410-548-1776 or Salisbury PD at 410-548-3165.
