Tisbury police ask for help in sexual assault investigation

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— Photo courtesy of Tisbury Police

Updated 10:30 am, Wednesday

On Tuesday, Tisbury police appealed to the public to help locate Tiago Souza, a 25-year-old Brazilian male, wanted in connection with an alleged sexual assault, reported Sunday night by a 16-year-old female acquaintance.

Police said Mr. Souza is 5-feet, 10-inches in height, weighs approximately 180 pounds and has a muscular build. He has a gap between his two front teeth and a pierced left ear.

Police said Mr. Souza gave the young woman a ride home from a social gathering on the evening of July 22.

Mr. Souza’s last known address was in Vineyard Haven. His last known job, police said, was working for a local tree service.

Detective Mark Santon applied for a warrant Tuesday in Edgartown District Court. The court issued an arrest warrant on charges of rape and assault and battery.

“We could have arrested him on probable cause without one,” detective Santon told The Times in a telephone conversation Wednesday, “but a warrant gives other agencies a heads-up for his arrest in case they run across him. We’re still working leads on his associates.”

Although booking photos taken of Mr. Souza in 2009 depict him with short brown hair, the Tisbury police received information that he may have shaved his head.

Anyone with information is asked to call the Tisbury Police Department at 508-696-4240.