Maplewood Police & County Prosecutor Investigating Home Invasion, Sexual Assault

Update 12:55 p.m. October 17, 2018. The Essex County Prosecutor’s Office Special Victims Unit and the Maplewood Police Department are investigating a home invasion, sexual assault of a young woman.

The woman first encountered the man around 11:30 a.m. on October 16, 2018. The preliminary investigation indicates that he followed her home, forced his way into her house and sexually assaulted her.

She was transported to an area hospital, where she was treated and released.

The suspect remains at large. Maplewood has a stepped-up police presence throughout the town.

Anyone with information is asked to contact the Essex County Prosecutor’s Office Homicide/Major Crimes Task Force at 1-877-TIPS-4EC or 1-877-847-7432.

Read the ECPO release here.

From the Maplewood Police at 9:11 p.m. on Tuesday, October 16, 2018:

The Maplewood Police working in conjunction with the Essex County Prosecutors Office are conducting an ACTIVE CRIMINAL INVESTIGATION. Details of the investigation will not be released at this time. Additional information will be released soon as possible. Residents are asked to call 911 to report any suspicious persons, vehicles or activity. Residents should be aware of their surroundings especially if walking alone and not provide personal information to strangers. Do not open your door to strangers, talk thru an open window if you have to. Call 911 immediately if possibly being followed. Parents are asked to have conversations with their children on safety and instruct them to call 911 first in the event of an emergency.

Until further notice, the Maplewood Police will have addition personnel assigned to ensure the safety of our community.

The Maplewood Police will provide a minimum of daily updates on the investigation as it proceeds and information becomes available.

Thank you,

Chief Jim DeVaul