Police look for leads in person of interest in sexual assault at DragonCon

ATLANTA — Atlanta police are asking the public for help identifying a person of interest in a sexual assault case.
 
Police told Channel 2 Action News that a woman who was under the influence reported being sexually assaulted on Sunday by a man wearing an FBI baseball cap at the DragonCon convention.

"If he's from the metro Atlanta area, I think the photos we got are pretty pretty distinct that someone will probably recognize his face," Lt. Celeste Murphy of the Atlanta Police Department said.
 
Police said the victim was leaving a DragonCon event between 3 and 5 a.m. Sunday.
 
DragonCon is an annual multi-genre convention in Atlanta that attracts tens of thousands of visitors, who often dress in costume.
 
The victim told police that a man wearing a hat with the letters FBI on it told her that his name was Gary from Marietta.

An incident report said the victim was ill and had a few drinks earlier, making her vulnerable.

“It was to the point that she was not able to give consent,” Murphy said.

Channel 2’s Richard Elliot was able to speak on the phone with the person who took the photo of the person of interest in this case. They didn't want to talk on camera but did say they were happy this photo is all over social media.

Channel 2 received the incident report filed early Sunday morning detailing the allegations.

In it, the alleged victim says she was having a bad reaction to some alcohol and was confused when she met the suspect.

She says, "He began speaking to her and led her over to the entrance of Peachtree Mall."

There, she says they "Sat down on a bench overlooking the food court and the suspect began to kiss and fondle her."

When she returned to DragonCon, she says she pointed the man out to her friend and she snapped the photo.

“I hate it for her and I hate that I'm not surprised that it happened,” DragonCon attendee Allison Lane said.

Police have been flooded with tips on the man's identity.

Channel 2 talked to a police lieutenant who said the man needs to be formally identified by the victim before authorities can go any further in identifying him and making an arrest.

A $2,000 reward is being offered for information that leads to an arrest and conviction.

Anyone with information in the case is asked to call Crime Stoppers at 404-577-8477. You can also submit a tip online www.crimestoppersatlanta.org or by text to CRIMES (274637).

WSBTV