Police arrest man accused of rape attempt in Westport woods

Their search for a man accused of exposing himself to a male hiker on Westport’s Brookside Conservation Trail last Wednesday, demanding sex and then pursuing his victim led police to a Westport house and eventually an arrest Monday morning.

At approximately 4:40 a.m., Westport Police executed a high-risk search warrant at 436 Sanford Road in Westport with the assistance of the SEMLEC (Southeastern Massachusetts Law Enforcement Council) SWAT / Special Weapons and Tactics Team. The focus of the search warrant was to locate suspect Philip Lafond, 53.

Mr. Lafond called Westport Police on Friday, Aug. 4, at around 8 p.m., and told police he had seen his photo on the news and knew police were looking for him, said Detective Jeff Majewski. He told police he was in the Blackstone Valley area camping.

When police tried to gather additional information about his location, he disconnected the call, the detective said. Later that same evening police discovered a social media account with Mr. Lafond in one of the photos and a visible registration plate in the photo. That vehicle was registered to a woman with the 436 Sanford Road address. Police checked that property and spotted the suspect’s vehicle.

Over the weekend Westport Police learned that Mr. Lafond had been living at the Sanford Road address for several months with his girlfriend. The property had been converted into three apartments with multiple entrance points and exits.

Mr. Lafond’s vehicle, an older model green Jeep Cherokee registered to him with an Acushnet address was the subject of a ‘be on the lookout’ broadcast to surrounding law enforcement agencies immediately after the assault at the Brookside Conservation Trail was reported to police.

During the execution of the search warrant police and a regional mobile command post were deployed. Crisis negotiators contacted the residents of the house and the SWAT team searched the home for Mr. Lafond but did not find him.

Officers contacted Mr. Lafond’s girlfriend who told police neither she nor Mr. Lafond was at the residence — they were camping, she said, adding that she would turn Mr. Lafond over to police.

The tactical team remained in the area and within two hours Mr. Lafond turned himself in at the Westport Police Department. He was booked on an arrest warrant for assault with intent to rape, open and gross lewdness, and lewd and lascivious conduct.

Sanford Road between Benoit Street and West Morency Streets was closed for approximately one hour and traffic was diverted during the Monday search.

“The incident had a safe resolution for everyone involved and Mr. Lafond was arraigned today at the Fall River Justice Center,” Det. Majewski said.