Absecon, NJ Business Owner Left Terrorized After 'Vicious attack'

A business owner in Absecon is recovering after a vicious, unprovoked attacked in the middle of the day.

The Absecon Police Department says their officers responded to the downtown business district around 3:30 Monday afternoon.

A 9-1-1 call from a store led officers to the area where a female store owner was subjected to an unprovoked and brutal attack by an assailant.

Police say a man, later identified as 37-year-old Dashawn U. Cooper of Pleasantville, entered a business and allegedly "initiated an assault on the female store owner, despite no prior acquaintance between the two."

Managing to break free, the store owner sought refuge in a nearby business. However, the assailant pursued her, entering the adjacent business and locking the door behind him. The assailant located the store owner and launched a vicious assault, including an attempted sexual assault.

Responding officers were forced to breach the front door of the business and they confronted and apprehended Cooper and freed the victim.

The victim was treated for significant injuries sustained during the attack.

Cooper faces a long list of charges, including kidnapping, attempted aggravated sexual assault, aggravated assault, criminal restraint, and criminal mischief.

He is currently detained in the Atlantic County Justice Facility.

Anyone with any additional information about this incident is urged to contact the Absecon Police Department at (609) 641-0667.

The public is reminded that charges are accusations and all persons are considered innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.