Editor’s note, 8/10, 10:45 a.m., this article has been updated with more information on the arrest from Capt. Dawn Williams, and comment from Chief Robert Cimino on the delay in disseminating information to the public.
An 18-year-old woman from Florida visiting relatives was allegedly sexually assaulted on Monday, August 1 in DeHart Park in Maplewood, said Sgt. Christopher Black. Maplewood Police arrested a 19-year-old Irvington man on Thursday, August 2, and charged him with the crime.
The following day, the woman told Maplewood Police that she had been assaulted at around 9:30 p.m. on Monday while walking to a family member’s home. She was taken to a hospital for medical evaluation, said Black.
In addition to notifying the Essex County Prosecutor’s Office, Maplewood Police began an investigation and increased police patrols in township parks as leads were being developed, said Black. With help from the Irvington and Union Police, Maplewood detectives developed and located a suspect, Brian McPherson, 19, of Irvington, and charged him with kidnapping and sexual Assault, Black said.
McPherson was arrested on August 2 and taken to the Essex County Correctional Facility.
“…McPherson was arrested by the Union Police Department on an unrelated charge on 08/03/16,” said Capt. Dawn Williams in an email to The Village Green. Maplewood Police took custody of him on August 4 and charged him with kidnapping and sexual assault.
Asked about the lapse in reporting the assault to the public, Chief Robert Cimino said, “There were no warnings issued as the case was being investigated. The preliminary information obtained in the initial report should have been disseminated to the public sooner.”
There is no indication at this time that the two knew each other, said Williams.
