Update: Sexual Assault Suspect Arrested Outside Puyallup Home

Update, July 10 8:30 p.m. 

Detectives from the Puyallup Police Department’s Major Crimes Unit and Special Investigations Unit received citizen(s) tips based on media and social media coverage of the case as to the identity and location of the suspect in this case.

Detectives located the subject at his residence in the 2500 block of South Meridian and placed him under arrest at 6:43 p.m. The subject, a 32-year-old Puyallup resident, was taken to the Puyallup Police Department for further investigation and will eventually be booked in the Pierce County Jail for one count of felony attempted sexual assault.

Detectives continue to investigate this case.

Original Story

On Tuesday, July 9, 2013, at 10:20 p.m. Puyallup Police responded to the Walmart at 310 31st Ave. Southeast for an attempted sexual assault report. 

The victim, a 22-year-old Puyallup resident, was assaulted by an unknown suspect in the 2900 block of 5th Street Southeast, according to Puyallup Police spokesperson Capt. Scott Engle.

The victim was able to flee to the Walmart for help.

According to the victim, she was walking northbound on 5th Street Southeast on the west side of the street when she encountered the suspect on the sidewalk. 

The suspect engaged in a brief conversation with the victim when he attacked her and forced her toward a nearby fence. The suspect physically assaulted the victim. 

The victim then struck the suspect with her knee and was able to flee from the suspect. The victim ran back to Walmart where she sought help from a store employee. 

Officers and a K-9 team searched the area for the suspect with no success. During the course of the investigation at the time of the incident it was learned the suspect in this case had been inside the Walmart prior to the assault on the suspect.

A check of the video surveillance cameras in the store found images of the suspect (pictured above).

The suspect was described as a white male in his 30s standing approximately 6’2”, weighing approximately 180 pounds. 

He had stained or possibly decaying front teeth, had a distinctive circular tattoo on his stomach area around his bellybutton as well as another tattoo on his right bicep area of his arm. 

The suspect wore a red baseball cap on backward, blue baggy jeans and no shirt. 

The suspect had been playing with a lighter both in the store and the area of the assault. 

The Puyallup Police Department has probable cause for arrest of this suspect. 

Anyone with information about this case, knows the identity of the suspect, or the location of the suspect is asked to call the Puyallup Police Department Tip Line at 253-770-3343.