A 20-year-old Charlottesville woman was raped Monday afternoon at Tonsler Park near the corner of Elliott and Fifth Streets extended.
Police believe that at approximately 3:30 p.m. Charlottesville resident Michael Bryan Plum, a 25-year-old male, approached the victim. He claimed to be a police officer and told the woman he had a gun, Charlottesville Police Sgt. Don Campbell said.
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Plum is suspected to have taken the victim to the wooded area of the park near the tennis courts, sodomized her and hit her repeatedly with his fist and a socket wrench, Campbell said.
"This was a very brutal assault," Campbell said. "It's something we don't see very often in Charlottesville, especially in broad daylight."
A male witness saw the attack and rushed to help the victim. The victim escaped from her attacker, rolled down the hill and instructed the witness to call the police, Charlottesville Police Detective Blaine Cosgro said.
At approximately 4:00 p.m., Charlottesville Patrol Officer Ernie Johnston detained the suspect after he spotted Plum walking outside and identified him as a possible suspect.
Plum fit the victim's description of her attacker as wearing faded blue jeans, a blue long-sleeved shirt with either a hat or hood and a small ponytail. Johnston also noticed Plum had scratches on his face, blood on his hands and mud on his clothing upon closer inspection, Cosgro said.
Plum, who has a prior arrest record, had a detention hearing yesterday morning. He was charged with abduction with intent to defile, two counts of forcible sodomy, penetration with an inanimate object, and malicious wounding. He is being held without bond.
The victim was treated and released Monday night from University hospital. She sustained head injuries in addition to the injuries resulting from the rape, Campbell said.
Plum's trial date has not been announced.
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