Boy, 15, charged in Coverstone area attacks

Police have caught a 15-year-old boy who they believe attacked five women in the Coverstone area since August.

On Aug. 26, a 32-year-old woman was attacked as she walked her dog in the 11000 block of Hiram Court at 7:15 a.m. The woman told police that she was knocked to the ground and beaten. She yelled for help and her attacker ran away when people came to her rescue.

Two other women were attacked Oct. 6.

Police believed at the time that the October attacks were related to an assault in August, though there were differences in the way the attacks were carried out, said Prince William police spokeswoman Erika Hernandez.

One of the victims from an October attack told police she was walking along a path between some apartment buildings and a shopping center in the 10900 block of Coverstone Drive when a man grabbed her, punched her in the face and sexually assaulted her.

The 25-year-old victim was taken to the hospital and treated for a broken nose, a laceration to her left leg and several abrasions, Hernandez said.

Later that night, a 33-year-old woman was attacked while sitting in her car in the 7500 block of Clemson Court, near Coverstone Drive, police said.

She told police that her attacker walked up to her car, opened the door, punched her in the face and tried to drag her from the car. She fought off the assailant, Hernandez said.

On Oct. 30, police were notified of an attack around noon near the stairwell of an apartment building in the 7700 block of Keara Court.

The 36-year-old victim told police that she fought back when she was grabbed by the neck and thrown into stair railings.

Her assailant ran off when she called for help and people came to her rescue, Hernandez said.

The fifth woman was attacked shortly before 6 p.m. Tuesday, Hernandez said.

The 36-year-old victim told police that she was walking through Barron Park, in the area of Coverstone and Aaron drives, when she was attacked from behind. Her attacker bit and punched her but she was able to fight free and call the police, Hernandez said.

Shortly after the Tuesday attack, the boy called police to report the incident, but didn't tell police he was involved.

Officer George F. Kimball was talking to the boy when he received the call about the attack on the 36-year-old woman.

Kimball noticed that the boy matched the description the woman had given to the police.

Kimball arrested the boy, and, after an investigation, charged him with three counts of abduction, five counts of malicious wounding, one count of sexual battery and one count of attempted rape. The 15-year-old was held without bond and is awaiting a hearing in Juvenile and Domestic Relations Court, Hernandez said.

Manassas Bureau Chief Keith Walker can be reached at 703-369-6751.