BPD Sexual Assault Unit responded to a call for an assault with intent to rape near Public Garden

From BPD News:

UPDATE At about 9:45 AM on Tuesday, September 29, 2020, officers assigned to District A-1 (Downtown) and detectives assigned to the Sexual Assault Unit made an onsite arrest of the suspect, Luan Maxwell, 30-years-old, of Boston. While on patrol, officers received information regarding the location of the suspect and further observed him walking on Boylston Street towards Washington Street. Upon seeing officers, the male fled onto Beech Street and across Kneeland Street, where he was apprehended by the Captain of District A-1 (Downtown) and detectives from the Sexual Assault Unit, on Harrison Avenue. Maxwell is expected to be arraigned in Boston Municipal Court for Assault with Intent to Rape.

Original post:

BPD Community Alert: At about 6:00 AM, on Monday September 28, 2020, members of the BPD Sexual Assault Unit responded to a call for an assault with intent to rape in the area of the Boston Public Garden in Downtown Boston. On arrival, detectives spoke with the victim who stated that she was walking inside the park when she was approached by a male suspect who placed his hand over her mouth while making sexually explicit threats and attempting to remove an article of clothing. The victim was able to free herself from the suspect’s grasp and flee to safety. The suspect is described as a black male in his twenties or thirties with slim to medium build and short black dreadlocks.

The Boston Police Sexual Assault Unit is actively reviewing the facts and circumstances surrounding this incident. Anyone with any information is asked to call detectives directly at (617) 343-4400.

Community members wishing to assist this investigation anonymously can do so by calling the CrimeStoppers Tip Line at 1(800) 494-TIPS or by texting the word ‘TIP’ to CRIME (27463).

The Boston Police Department will stringently guard and protect the identities of those who wish to help this investigation anonymously. If you are a victim of a sexual assault that has or has not been reported to police and would feel more comfortable seeking confidential advice from a non-law enforcement agency, the Boston Police Department encourages you to call the Boston Area Rape Crisis Center (BARCC) at 1 (800) 841-8371. BARCC provides free and confidential counseling, case management, legal, and medical advocacy services to survivors in the greater Boston area. To learn more, please click on the enclosed link: www.barcc.org

TIPS FOR ENSURING YOUR PERSONAL SAFETY: The BPD encourages individuals to review the following safety tips with the understanding that, while these tips are designed to decrease and diminish the likelihood of an attack, no victim is ever to blame for the actions of an attacker.

• Be aware of your surroundings, especially at night. Keep your head up. Make quick eye contact with those around you and when possible try to avoid poorly lit or isolated areas.

• When possible, walk with friends and people you know especially late at night.

• Avoid the distractions created when talking on a cell phone or listening to an iPod/similar device. Avoid wearing earbuds or headphones in both ears.

• If you believe someone is following you, change direction, cross the street, seek a populated location and call 911.

• Remember descriptive information about the person following you to report to the police.

• If confronted, believe in your ability to fight back and defend yourself. Creating distance and yelling words like: “fire”, “help” or “rape” are smart ways of drawing attention and alerting people that you need help.

• Keep your car keys in your hand to use as a weapon to ward off an attack.

• Trust your instincts and understand that anyone at any time can be a victim of crime. Never assume: “It won’t ever happen to me.”