Montgomery County police announced Friday they have arrested a 21-year-old Wheaton man in relation to multiple sex offenses in three incidents in the Wheaton area, including an attempted rape.
William Brown Jr. of Wheaton was charged with three counts of fourth-degree sex offenses, three counts of second-degree assault and two counts of attempted second-degree rape. He is currently being held on $100,000 bond, according to police.
Police said the first incident happened around 9 a.m. Feb. 4. A 33-year-old woman was using the self-checkout at the Safeway at 11201 Georgia Ave. when Brown allegedly approached her and started touching her inappropriately. When she started to resist, Brown fled, police said.
Police said Brown returned to the same grocery store the next day and assaulted a woman as she was attempting to put her groceries into her vehicle around 8:20 a.m. Police said Brown approached the woman in the parking garage below the store, started touching her inappropriately and attempted to push her into the vehicle. She resisted and broke a finger during a struggle, which caused Brown to flee, police said.
In the third incident, police said a 22-year-old woman was walking on the sidewalk near the Mid-County Regional Services Center at 2424 Reedie Drive when Brown approached her from behind and attempted to pull down her pants. The woman was able to break free and Brown fled, police said.
Police said Brown was arrested based on evidence including surveillance footage that captured a possible suspect in the area of all three assaults as well as from descriptions provided by the victims.
Police arrested Brown on Feb. 11 as he attempted to enter the Safeway store on Georgia Avenue where the previous assaults occurred. During an interview, Brown told officers he “bumped” into a woman in the garage and his description of the woman matched the victim in the Feb. 5 incident, police said.
Police believe there may be additional victims and are asking anyone with possible information to contact them at 240-773-5030.
