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Fairfield Police Follow Footprints, Blood To Find Suspect In Sex Assault

FAIRFIELD, Conn. — Officers found a suspected rapist hiding behind bushes after they followed his footprints and a trail of his blood in the snow after a Saturday night sexual assault on Reef Road, police said in a statement.

Michael Fontaine

Michael Fontaine

Photo Credit: Fairfield Police Department

Michael Fontaine, 48, was charged with first-degree aggravated sexual assault, first-degree robbery, third-degree assault and second-degree larceny. Fontaine, who has an extensive police record, was held on $500,000 bond for a court appearance Monday. 

Chief Gary MacNamara attributes the quick arrest to the "perseverance and determination” of the responding officers." 

At 10:19 p.m. Saturday, a woman called 911 to report she had just been sexually assaulted and robbed at knifepoint as she was walking home from the Fairfield train station, police said. 

She described the suspect as a tall, light-skinned black man, armed with a knife, police said. 

Officers responded to the area of the 600 block of Reef Road, about seven blocks from the train station, and located the victim, police said. A nearby witness reported hearing a woman scream and saw a man run from the area, police said. The witness pointed officers in the direction in which he saw the man run, police said.

Additional Fairfield officers, along with K9 teams from the Westport Police Department and the State Police, responded to the area. A perimeter was established, and an extensive search was conducted, police said. 

Officers found fresh footprints in the snow and a trail of fresh blood droplets, presumed to be from the suspect because he was injured during the attack, police said. Officers followed this trail and found a man hiding in bushes on Old Post Road near Beach Road at 11:14 p.m., police said.

The man was detained and identified by the victim, police said. He was also found in possession of the victim's belongings, police said.

Police said Fontaine has an extensive criminal history, including convictions for robbery, sexual assault, carjacking, rape, narcotics sale, and burglary in Pennsylvania, Massachusetts, and Connecticut.

In addition, Fontaine was recently released from a correctional facility and is a registered sex offender, police said.

Fairfield police detectives are continuing their investigation and working to obtain additional background information on Fontaine. 

They are also investigating whether Fontaine is connected to additional incidents or any unreported incidents in the greater Fairfield area. 

Anyone with related information is asked to contact the Fairfield Police Department Detective Bureau at 203-254-4840. Those wishing to remain anonymous may provide information by texting CRIMES (274637) with the keyword “FPD” or may go to www.fpdct.com/tips.

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