Police Seek Public's Help in St. Timothy Assault

DeKalb police are asking the public to help them identify the suspect in the sexual and physical assault of a woman at St. Timothy United Methodist Church recently. Crime Stoppers Atlanta is offering a reward for tips, the police said.

Police say  the suspect is a male between 40 and 50 years old. He's believed to be about 6'2" and roughly 180 pounds. The attack happened around 3:30 p.m. on Saturday, Feb. 26. Anyone in the area of the church at 5365 Memorial Drive at about that time who may have seen someone "fitting this description or someone acting suspiciously" should contact Crime Stoppers Atlanta, the county police department said in a press release. 

DeKalb detectives think the suspect also robbed the victim of a cell phone and sold it to someone "not connected to the assault" near Underground Atlanta, according to the statement. Anyone near Underground Atlanta between 4 - 6 p.m. who saw someone who fits the description, trying to sell a cell phone, also is asked to contact Crime Stoppers Atlanta.

The victim, 53, is a staff member at the church and was working alone on that Saturday afternoon when she opened the church door to a man asking for help, according to another church employee, who asked not to be identified. The victim was then raped, brutally beaten and robbed. A church employee this week said that she's "improving," but declined to give more information. 

Rep. Michele Henson, DeKalb County Police Chief William O'Brien and others will be at a town-hall type meeting at the church tomorrow night at 7 p.m. to discuss public safety in the Memorial Drive corridor. 

 No information was given on the reward amount, and neither the DeKalb police nor Crime Stoppers Atlanta could be reached immediately.

Anyone with any information about the suspect should call Crime Stoppers Atlanta at 404-557-8477.