Search for 'Person of Interest' in Point Beach Sexual Assault

The Ocean County Prosecutor's office is asking the public for help in identifying a "person of interest" in a Point Beach sexual assault case. The office released a picture of him Thursday afternoon.

"This individual is a person of interest who may have information regarding a sexual assault on the beach of an adult female," according to a news release sent Thursday from Prosecutor Marlene Lynch Ford. "This occurred in the early morning hours of Monday."

The man captured in the photos, which were pulled from surveillance video, is described as Latino, between 5 feet, 8 inches and 5 feet, 10 inches tall, in his late 20s or early 30s, around 150 to 175 pounds, wearing a white shirt with a drawstring on the collar, khaki shorts, sandals and was seen on the boardwalk between 10:30 p.m. Sunday and 2 a.m. Monday, authorities said.

Anyone who has information or can identify this person is asked to contact either Detective John Murphy of the Prosecutor’s Office at 732-929-2027 ext. 2422, or Detective Clint Daniel of Point Pleasant Beach police at 732-892-0500 ext. 160.  

The investigation involved police and the prosecutor's office closing and searching the beach and trash cans between Central Avenue and Water Street, which is on the north side, early Monday morning.

The victim is a 21-year-old woman who lives outside the Point Beach area.

Authorities believe the perpetrator also may live outside the area. Authorities are not identifying the man in the photos as a "suspect," only as a "person of interest."

Michael Mohel, deputy chief of the prosecutor's office, said, "It's an active, ongoing investigation into a sexual assault. I have no further comment because the investigation is ongoing."

He said no arrests have been made.