Investigators seek to ID assault suspect

FORTY FORT — Investigators hope someone can identify a man based on a new composite sketch of the suspect linked to an alleged assault more than two months ago inside a home on West Pettebone Street.

A man went to a woman’s house just before 9 a.m. Jan. 14 claiming to work for a gas utility company investigating a gas leak, authorities said. He told the woman a neighbor reported the leak.

The woman allowed the man to enter her residence where she claimed he attacked her physically and sexually.

A search warrant affidavit filed by Forty Fort police says the woman believed she was attacked in retaliation for an unrelated case.

Luzerne County District Attorney Stefanie Salavantis said the woman recently was able to provide facial details of the suspect. A computer-generated composite sketch of the suspect was released Friday in the hopes that he can be identified.

“We do not believe this is a random incident but rather that the victim was specifically targeted,” Salavantis said in a news release.

The suspect is described as a white male in his 50s, 5-feet 10-inches to 6-feet tall, 185 to 200 pounds, with short hair; he wore a red hat, red long-sleeve shirt and black pants.

Forty Fort police and the district attorney’s office are investigating. Anyone with information about the man is asked to call Forty Fort police at 287-8586.

Earlier this week, state Attorney General Kathleen G. Kane and Public Utility Commission Chairman Robert F. Powelson cautioned state residents to be diligent when encountering offers for electricity from door-to-door and telephone solicitors. There has been a rash of dishonest sales pitches in several communities, according to Kane and Powelson.

Locally, residents in the Heights section of Wilkes-Barre reported people claiming to be from an electric utility company going door to door, asking homeowners for their electric utility bills.

Daniel J. McCarthy, vice president of PPL corporate communications and community affairs, said neither PPL Electric Utilities nor PPL EnergyPlus engage in telemarketing or door-to-door sales for the purpose of encouraging residential customers to switch energy suppliers.

“Customers should beware of these false claims and avoid sharing personal information with these individuals,” McCarthy said.