Police release sketches of two suspects in East Side attacks

MILWAUKEE (WITI) -- Milwaukee police are looking for two men they believe could be connected to as many as four robberies on the Upper East Side. In two of those incidents, police say the victims were also sexually assaulted.

Police say a 44-year-old woman was attacked Sunday night, July 28th by a man who sexually assaulted her near Prospect and Locust.

Police say the suspect got into a van and tried to take the woman with him, but she got away.

That woman has provided police with a description of the suspect, and police have released sketches of the two men they believe are responsible.

East Side attacker suspect sketch

Police provided a description of an attacker Tuesday - a black man, 25-35 years old, about 5'8" tall, and weighing about 150 pounds.

Police say the man had his hood up on his sweater and was armed with a black handgun that had a long nozzle.

"It's really important that the public understand to be vigilant. I would suggest when you're walking out there and night, don't be talking on your phone, don't be texting on your phone. Pay attention to your surroundings," Milwaukee Police Inspector Carianne Yerkes said.

Police say the two most recent attacks occurred Sunday.

Just after midnight, a man and woman were robbed at gunpoint near the corner of Locust and Downer.

This occurred after the 44-year-old woman was attacked.

Police traced that woman's stolen phone to a van caught on camera headed south on 7th Street, past Galena Avenue.

"One of the victims was able to hit an app on her phone that was able to still make contact with her phone and that was the last area we have," Yerkes said.

East Side getaway driver suspect sketch

MPD has also released a sketch for a man they believe to be the getaway driver.

He is described as a black man with a slender face and shoulder-length dreadlocks.

Police think the two men may also be responsible for two armed robberies committed on July 12th.

In one of those attacks, a woman was sexually assaulted.

"Based on the suspect description, they're similar descriptions, based on the areas they occurred in, the time of day and on the date that they occurred," Yerkes said.

Finally, police released a surveillance video of the suspect's van.

Officers patrolling the area will have these sketches at their side, so if anyone wants to take another look, they can.

MPD says it will also distribute the posters to area businesses, hoping they'll display them either inside or on the window.