Neighbors and Northwest Branch trail users concerned about Tuesday’s sexual assault and robbery will meet at the trail May 21 at 4 p.m. for a communal Take Back Our Trail walk.
The North Four Corners Civic Association President Ema Perez called the trail “one of our community’s most treasured features,” and noted the association has heard from several neighbors that they no longer feel safe on the trail.
The group will walk Sunday at 4 p.m. and meet at the parking lot near the dam on Colesville Road for a short address, which will be followed by a one mile walk together.
According to Montgomery County Police, Jose Roberto Hernandez-Penal of Hyattsville was arrested and charged with first-degree rape, kidnapping and armed robbery in connection with Tuesday’s sexual assault on the Northwest Branch Trail.
At about 2:40 p.m. on May 16, Henandez-Penal, 20, approached two adult females who were sitting on rocks, displayed a machete, stole their property and sexually assaulted one of the women before leaving the scene, according to police.
As he was fleeing, Hernandez-Penal assaulted an adult male in the 1100 block of Devere Drive.
