Two teenage girls escaped an alleged attempted sexual assault at a Connecticut state park after investigators said they fought back against a knife-wielding attacker by throwing rocks before running to safety and finding help from other visitors.
The incident happened around 3:30 p.m. Monday at Kettletown State Park in Southbury.
According to the Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection’s Environmental Conservation Police (EnCon), officers responded after receiving a report of an assault.
Southbury police had already detained the suspect, 23-year-old Darius Moreno, when EnCon officers arrived.
Moreno, of Southbury, was later processed by state police and remains in custody as the case moves through the court system.
Investigators said Moreno allegedly approached the girls from behind while they were hiking near Kettletown Brook and forced them farther into a wooded area after threatening them with a knife.
According to the arrest report, one girl attempted to call 911, but Moreno allegedly knocked her down, took her phone, and covered her mouth and nose, restricting her ability to breathe.
Police said he later demanded the second girl’s phone and told both girls they could leave if they followed his demands, according to NBC Connecticut.
Instead, the girls fought back.
Police said one girl managed to break free, grabbed a rock, and struck Moreno in the head.
As investigators allege Moreno began pulling down the second girl’s pants, the first girl continued throwing rocks, giving both girls the opportunity to escape.
The pair ran toward the parking lot while screaming for help, where several park visitors came to their aid.
One witness told investigators the suspect repeatedly apologized before officers arrested him.
The girls suffered minor cuts and scrapes during the encounter, according to investigators. Moreno was also treated for minor injuries before being processed by state police.
Authorities said the visitors who assisted the girls helped them get away from the area while officers responded.
Investigators later recovered evidence connected to the incident, including a missing phone and Moreno’s keys, which police said were located by an EnCon police K-9.
According to the arrest report, Moreno admitted he changed direction on the trail after seeing the girls and followed them.
Investigators said he acknowledged pulling out a knife, taking one victim’s phone to prevent her from calling 911 and pulling down one girl’s pants.
Police said Moreno told investigators he had developed a sexual fantasy after viewing what he described as forceful pornography.
He allegedly claimed he intended only to frighten the girls rather than harm them. Authorities said he later threw one victim’s phone from a hill before realizing he had lost his car keys while fleeing.
Moreno has been charged with first-degree robbery, attempted third-degree sexual assault, first-degree unlawful restraint, third-degree strangulation, assault, threatening, interfering with an emergency call, carrying a dangerous weapon, and several other offenses.
Prosecutors have indicated additional charges remain possible as the investigation continues, WTNH reported.
Moreno was initially held on a $250,000 bond before a judge later increased it to $1.5 million during his arraignment. He has not entered a plea and is scheduled to return to court July 21.
Authorities have continued reviewing the evidence as the case proceeds.
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