A Virginia man identified as the suspect in the slashing of young women’s buttocks in shopping malls is believed to have fled the area, police said today.
Police have obtained an arrest warrant for Johnny D. Guillen Pimentel, 40, citing attacks on 9 women since February, but Fairfax County police said they have not been able to locate him.
“We believe that he has fled the area,” said police spokeswoman Tawny Wright.
Police say Pimentel will distract the women, then quickly cut them on their buttocks. None of the women, who range in age from 15 to 25, sustained serious injuries, she said.
“When they turn around to pick up a hanger or clothing, he will turn around real quick and nick them with a sharp object,” she said.
Pimentel was first identified Tuesday and is believed to be driving a blue 2003 Honda Civic with Virginia license plate KLX2689.
“The police department posted literally thousands of flyers … somebody from the community recognized him and called in a tip to us. Based on that tip we were able to determine that was the suspect we were looking for,” Wright said.
The most recent victim, an 18-year-old who had been shopping at Forever XXI in Fair Oaks Mall on July 25, received a one and half inch cut to her buttocks when she bent over to pick up some clothes that had fallen off a rack behind her.
In August, a 21-year-old came forward to tell police she had been shopping at a T.J. Maxx at Fairfax Towne Center on June 8, when she “felt a pinch on her buttocks,” according to Fairfax police. She later discovered cuts in her clothing, and had not been injured.
Police ask that anyone who has experienced a similar incident, or anyone with information on Pimentel’s whereabouts contact the Fairfax County Police Department at 703-691-2131 or contact Crime Solvers at 1-866-411-TIPS/8477.
