Woman sexually assaulted at Arlington Heights assisted living community

Rob Elgas Image
Saturday, August 22, 2015
Sexual assault in Arlington Heights
A resident at an Arlington Heights assisted-living community was sexually assaulted Thursday night, police said.

ARLINGTON HEIGHTS, Ill. (WLS) -- Arlington Heights police are looking for a man who they say sexually assaulted a woman in an assisted living and retirement community Thursday night.

"It's just amazing that somebody would stoop so low," said Andrew Bailey, who lives at Church Creek where the assault happened.

Police said the man entered a unit from a first-floor window at about 10:40 p.m. The community is located near Central Road and Dwyer Avenue. The victim is hospitalized. Police have not released a description of the man.

Bailey, who has lived at Church Creek for more than a decade, said he's haunted by the incident.

"It's just heart breaking and appalling to think of somebody that would break in to a building that is 98 percent elderly and a few handicapped people like myself," Bailey said.

Bailey said Church Creek staff called a community meeting Friday afternoon to discuss security measures.

Neighbor Beth Shanley, who lives just next door, news of such a brazen attack is hard to digest.

"I lived in Arlington Heights my entire life," Shanley said. "I grew up four blocks from here. It's not something common that I hear about anyway."

Attacks like this are rare for Arlington Heights, although a similar assault occurred nearly a year ago in September. In that unsolved case, the suspect also entered through a window.

Crime Stoppers is offering a $1,000 reward for information about the man. Anyone with information is asked to contact the Arlington Heights Police Department at 847-368-5300.

Anonymous tops can be submitted to Crime Stoppers at 847-590-STOP or via their website at ahcrimestoppers.org.