Rogue magazine seller forces school lockdown

Friday, May 13, 2011

ROACHDALE -- An assault on Tuesday afternoon led to an unresolved manhunt, an ongoing investigation and a school lockdown.

Roachdale Police, Indiana State Troopers and five deputies, including Tom Helmer, searched the area around North Putnam High School looking for a man who had forced his way into a woman's home and attacked her.

The assailant was attempting to sell magazines to a 30-year-old Roachdale woman, on the 8200 block of N. County Rd. 100E at 1:40 p.m. When she tried to close the door on him, he forced his way into the home and attempted to strangle her, injuring her face. The woman fought her attacker off and he fled northwest from the scene.

Helmer said the woman was taken to Hendricks County Hospital, and the department plans to collect DNA samples from the injuries, with the possibility of extracting fingerprints from the marks left on the victim.

Because of the proximity to North Putnam High School, with the location of the incident being roughly 1.5 miles away, the school was locked down as police searched for the assailant. Helmer said the dogs could not find the man, and witnesses said he had no car near him.

"I think he's familiar with the area," Helmer said.

The man was described as 6-foot to 6-foot-2 in height, 150 to 160 pounds, wearing a dark blue or black suit jacket, blue jeans and a New York Yankees baseball cap.

The investigation is ongoing. Those with information about the incident may call the Sheriff's Department at 653-3211.

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