MANCHESTER, Connecticut — A man is in custody following the alleged robbery and sexual assault of a 65-year-old woman at a Manchester walking trail on Wednesday.
Manchester police said officers responded to a report of a robbery and sexual assault on the hiking trail near Charter Oak Park.
A woman was walking on the trail when she was thrown to the ground by the suspect. The suspect groped her, physically assaulted her, and briefly took her purse and cell phone before the victim fought him off and got the phone and purse back.
"Who knows what he was thinking!" said Linda Atkins of Manchester.
Atkins frequented the trail that extends for miles, but after she heard what happened on Wednesday, she is a little more cautious and aware.
"I used to go, like you said, over the little bridge partially into the woods but now if I can't see other people, I'm not going to," added Atkins.
The woman was able to take a photograph of the suspect before he fled, and officers immediately set up a perimeter in the Charter Oak Park / Sycamore Lane area to begin a search.
The suspect, later identified as Daquan Clark-Blue, 30, was found at a residence on Charter Oak Street, a short distance from the scene of the assault. Clark-Blue was taken into custody without incident.
The arrest warrant stated Clark-Blue punched this woman repeatedly and covered her mouth as she screamed for help which left her with cuts and bruises.
Community members were shocked this crime happened during the day.
"That's pretty bold. I don't know. There's wild people out there," said Trent Thompson of Manchester.
The warrant continued on and said Clark-Blue told this woman he would 'shoot her' if she did not stop fighting back.
"This is the first time I've ever heard of somebody being assaulted on this trail. It's been here for quite a long time," said Bob Corcoran of South Windsor.
Investigators say they found clothing matching the clothing he was wearing in the photograph taken by the victim at the residence.
During Clark-Blue's hearing, his attorney cited mental health concerns and has a daughter he speaks to every day.
Manchester Mayor Jay Moran issued a statement and said:
"Acts of physical violence and intimidation have no place in Manchester. As evidenced by the quick detention of the accused suspects by law enforcement, the Town of Manchester is committed to protecting our residents and ensuring public safety. I thank the police officers involved in these investigations for the fast and effective response."
The victim was transported to Manchester Memorial Hospital where she was treated for injuries sustained during the assault.
Clark-Blue faces charges, including:
- Assault in the Third Degree
- Assault in the Third Degree of an Elderly Person
- Criminal Attempt / Aggravated Sexual Assault in the First Degree
- Sexual Assault in the Third Degree
- Unlawful Restraint in the First Degree
- Strangulation in the Third Degree
- Threatening in the First Degree
- Larceny in the Second Degree
- Robbery in the First Degree
Clark-Blue is currently being held on a $500,000 bond and will appear at the Superior Court in Manchester on Thursday should he remain in custody.
Anyone with additional information about this incident is urged to contact the Manchester Police Department at (860) 645-5500.
Carmen Chau is an anchor and reporter at FOX61 News. She can be reached at cchau@fox61.com. Follow her on Facebook and X.
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