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Waltham Police warning residents after 10th unprovoked assault in city, at apartment complex

WALTHAM, Mass. — Police in Waltham are warning residents about a series of attacks that have happened across the city and in one particular apartment complex since Nov. 10.

On Saturday morning, Detective Sgt. Stephen McCarthy confirmed a 10th assault happened Friday night around 8 p.m. on Chestnut Street. McCarthy said a victim was taken to a hospital after being struck in the “facial area” with a blunt object.

The suspect in this assault is described as a thin black man, 5-foot-11 to 6-foot and wearing a black hoodie. There are varying descriptions for the nine other previous attacks that have all happened after dark between 5:30 p.m. and 11:30 p.m.

Waltham Police released surveillance video on Saturday of a man they believe is responsible for a series of attacks over the past 2 and a half weeks.

In the video, a man is seen running down a street wearing jeans and what appears to be a black hoodie.

Police stated in a Facebook post that they have not yet been able to identify the man, and are asking for the public’s help. The post did not state when or where the video was taken.

No arrests have been made, McCarthy said. Police are unsure whether it is one person or multiple assailants, but said the way attacks are happening are very similar.

McCarthy said that five attacks have happened at the GardenCrest Apartments on Middlesex Circle and five attacks were reported in the downtown area near Chestnut and Charles streets.

He said all 10 victims are men.

“He’s going around and he’s attacking anybody that he chooses,” said Jade Cherry, a GardenCrest Apartments resident of 11 years.

“He’s picking his victims and jumping up behind them and punching them in the head, and then when they turn around to approach him, he runs.”

Cherry told Boston 25 on Friday that she was home one night when her neighbor, a Dunkin Donuts employee who happened to be heading to work, was attacked.

She said a postal worker down the road was also assaulted.

“The mailman got attacked. The United States Postal Service got attacked,” she said.

Investigators are warning residents to remain aware of their surroundings, especially when out after dark.

“We’re being careful,” said resident Pam Guy. “It’s scary, I hope they catch him soon.”

One resident in the complex gave Boston 25 the following email that was sent out from management of the Gardencrest Apartments on Saturday saying:

Hello,

We have been informed that five attacks have been reported at the GardenCrest apartment complex since Nov. 10, with the man attacking people between 5:30 and 10:30 p.m. The Police have stated to us that the suspect was described as a black man between 5 feet 6 inches and 5 feet 10 inches tall, weighing between 160 and 180 pounds and wearing dark clothing.

Anyone with any information regarding these incidents is asked to call the Waltham Police at 781-314-3600 or the anonymous tip line at 781-314-3636. As always, we remind you to be vigilant regarding any suspicious behavior, be safe and report it directly to the police immediately.

On Saturday night, people in Waltham remained on edge as patrol cars monitored the city.

“Hearing that there was another attack last night is really scary,” said Josephine Williams, a resident of GardenCrest Apartments.

Williams, a nurse who works the night shift, said she’s worried for herself and for her children.

“Now I have to run from my car to my house because it’s so scary I don’t know if I’m going to be attacked or not, and my son, everybody’s scared,” she said.

Boston 25 News also spoke with a postal worker on Saturday who said he was attacked last Friday while on the job. While he declined an on-camera interview, he did confirm that he was attacked from behind and showed our news crew his stitches above his upper lip.

Anyone with any information is asked to call Waltham Police at 781-314-3600 (option 4), or the anonymous tip line at 781-314-3636.