Police renew appeal for information in Canaan sexual assault

State police say two men attacked a bicyclist on lightly traveled Whitten Road July 7.

By DOUG HARLOW
Staff Writer
 
CANAAN — State police are renewing their appeal this week for information on a sexual assault July 7 on rural Whitten Road.

A 50-year-old woman was pulled off her bicycle and assaulted by two men between noon and 2:30 p.m. that Sunday. So far, no one has been charged, according to Steve McCausland, spokesman for the Maine Department of Public Safety.

“There are no new developments in this case,” McCausland said Tuesday. “Right after our public appeal (July 8) we had three or four people call us with information to share, but as of today there hasn’t been any information other than that.”

The woman is from Florida and was visiting a relative in Canaan, according to McCausland. She was treated and released from Redington-Fairview General Hospital in Skowhegan.
The men reportedly fled in a motor vehicle.

The road where she was assaulted is so lightly traveled that state police hope someone saw something unusual that will lead them to the woman’s attackers.

Bob Johnson, 79, a sawmill operator who lives on the road, said he was told by investigators that the men wore masks.

McCausland would not comment on the report of the masks or what type of vehicle the two men were in.

McCausland said the woman tried to flag motorists down for help. When one stopped, the driver called 911. Once the first vehicle stopped, others pulled over to help, he said.

“We’re still appealing to anyone who drove by or stopped to render assistance and did not give their name to call,” McCausland said.

State police ask anyone with information on the attack or who saw anything unusual on Whitten Road on July 7 to call 624-7076 or 800-452-4664.

Doug Harlow — 612-2367
dharlow@centralmaine.com