ASSAULTS NEAR PARK HAD SAME METHOD

Two similar assaults in the vicinity of Capaha Park that occurred this week are believed to involved the same suspects, police reported.

Both incidents involve three men and a woman asking for a ride to a nearby gasoline station, after which they assault the driver and hijack his car, Cpl. Kevin Orr said.

The first incident occurred about 6:30 p.m. on Monday. The victim was walking to his car, which was parked near the intersection of West End Boulevard and Normal Street. He was approached by three men and a woman who wanted a ride to Kidd's convenience store at 1325 Broadway.

Reluctantly, the man gave the four a ride to avoid a confrontation, Orr said.

He was then threatened to continue driving, until the car reached an alley near the 100 block of south Louisiana Street.

When he let the suspects out, one of the men stood in front of him and said he had a gun under his shirt. He told the driver to give him his wallet, after which the suspect became more angry, Orr said.

The suspects then removed other items from the car, including compact discs and a compact disc player.

When a woman who lived nearby turned on an outside light, the suspects tossed the man's wallet and keys under the car and walked away.

The following night, about 10:30 p.m., another man told police he was walking to his car in Capaha Park when he was approached by two men. They asked for a ride to Kidd's convenience store, and the man obliged.

The two asked the driver to pull into an alley behind the store, where one suspect put a headlock on the driver and punched him in the head.

Restraining the victim in the back seat, the suspects drove back to the park where another man and a woman got into the car.

They drove the car to the intersection of Lexington and LaCroix streets, where the man was forced out of the car. He was forced to take off all of his clothes, Orr said, as the suspects responded that they were doing this because their relatives had died in slavery.

The group then drove off, leaving the naked victim at the intersection.

The man walked to an acquaintance's house, where he called police.

The victim's car, a 1994 red Dodge Shadow, was located shortly after 11 p.m. at the 1000 block of south Pacific Street, where it had been set on fire, Orr said.

Both incidents remain under investigation.