Sketch released of Md. pastor assailant

Montgomery County police have released a composite sketch of the suspect who assaulted a pastor inside a church earlier this week.

Detectives said the suspect could also be recognized by cuts to his hands and head, as the preacher was armed with a rake.

The composite. (Montgomery Police)

The incident, at New Creation Church in the Wheaton area, was the third time in six weeks that an intruder entered the church -- break-ins that, at one point, led to the theft of an estimated 40,000 pennies collected as part of a project to donate money to help impoverished children.

Detectives don't know if the Sunday attacker was the same person who'd been in the
church before.

They described him as a white male, between 22 and 26, standing approximately 5'10" and weighing about 225 pounds with a muscular build.

He was clean-shaven, had "dirty blond" hair and blue-green eyes. He wore a winter coat with black sleeves and red and blue on the front; the back of the coat was black; he also wore a gray or blue t-shirt with a design on the front, blue jeans and gray tennis shoes, police said.

On Sunday evening, about 6:35 p.m., police were called to the church at 11005 Dayton Street in the Glenview community. They learned the pastor, who'd come to the church with his wife to make a repair, found someone hiding in the basement.

When the pastor tried to keep the intruder from leaving, the suspect punched him with his fist, which also held some sort of metal object, police said.

The two fought, but the suspect was able to break out a door to flee from the church. He was last seen running toward the intersection of Dayton Road and Prichard Road, police said. The pastor declined medical transport for his injuries.

Police ask anyone with information about this suspect or the burglaries to call 240-773-5530. Anonymous callers or those interested in a reward of up to $1,000 can call 1-866-411-TIPS (8477).