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It's the second online date rape allegation brought to police in four months, with the first transferred to Rockingham County Superior Court.
According to the city's public police log, officers took a report about an alleged "rape-forcible sexual assault" at 2:44 p.m. Friday. Police Lt. Fred Hoysradt said the crime is alleged to have occurred Jan. 24 and officers are actively investigating a suspect, but details are not being released because the investigation is ongoing.
There has been no related arrest.
Police Capt. Janet Champlin, who heads the department's detectives division and confirmed the investigation, also declined to cite specifics and cautioned users of Internet dating sites.
"It has to do with an online dating situation," Champlin said Monday. "As a reminder to people who use online dating services, until you know who you are dealing with, be aware of your surroundings. People can say whatever they want about themselves on the Internet. Users should use caution."
In late November, police charged a Rhode Island man with a felony count of aggravated sexual assault, alleging he plied a woman with alcohol and possibly a date rape drug before raping her.
Joseph Silva III, 31, of 9 Winsor St., East Providence, is alleged to have met the woman through the dating service Match.com and arranged to meet her in Portsmouth on Aug. 17 when he repeatedly sexually assaulted her. During Silva's arraignment, prosecutor Susan Boone told a district court judge that Silva's alleged crime was "a very calculated felonious sexual assault" and he "continuously tried to contact" the woman after the alleged crime.
Silva is being represented by Providence attorney John F. Cicilline, best known for representing late New England mob boss Raymond Patriarca. The case is scheduled to go before a Rockingham County grand jury.
safety forum
A forum on Internet safety will be presented by members of the city's police and school departments at 7 p.m. on March 7.
Parents of students in School Administrative Units 50 and 52, Portsmouth, Rye, Greenland, Newington and New Castle, are invited to attend the forum at no cost. The one-hour presentation will offer information police say "every parent should know" about online dangers.
A question-and-answer period will follow and the presentation is expected to be aired on public access Channel 22 at a later date.
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