A warrant was expected to be issued today for a man whoallegedly abducted and sexually assaulted an 18-year-old woman andthen apologized for the Monday afternoon incident, BrookhavenAssistant Police Chief Nolan Jones said.

“We hope to have the suspect in custody soon,” Jones saidtoday.

Jones said the incident began around 2 p.m. Monday after theLincoln County woman had visited a Brookway Village business nearMagee Drive. While returning to her car, she tried to avoid a manstanding near the vehicle’s rear end.

Jones said the woman entered her car, but the man opened thepassenger door and asked for a ride. She initially refused, citinga busy work schedule.

Jones said the man then lifted his shirttail to reveal ahandgun. The woman complied with the man’s demands and theytraveled north on Magee Drive, Jones said.

After turning around following a brief stop at the end of theroad, the car pulled into the Best Western parking lot and parkedin the rear by a large dumpster, the assistant chief said. The manand woman then entered a room.

Jones said the woman was sexually assaulted but was not raped.He did not elaborate.

“He told her, ‘If you cooperate, I won’t hurt you,'” Jonessaid.

The man apologized to the woman following the incident, Jonessaid, and then made her pray for him.

“They talked about church for a while,” Jones said.

The man escorted the woman to her car, made her hug him andreleased her. He also made her swear not to report the incident andtook some items containing the woman’s personal information.

“He did not physically harm the girl,” Jones said.

Jones said the Police Department did not receive a call aboutthe incident until 7:38 p.m. Monday, when it was reported from thehospital.

“Out of fear for her and her family’s safety is the reason itwasn’t reported any sooner,” Jones said.

Jones said he talked to the girl at the hospital Monday evening.A more in-depth discussion was held Wednesday.

“We do have quite a bit of evidence to send to the Crime Lab,”Jones said.

The suspect was described as a white male about 5-feet 10-inchestall. He is in his 30s, Jones said.

Jones said the Monday event was an “isolated incident” resultingfrom an opportunity that presented itself to the suspect.

“It could happen to anyone,” Jones said. “She just happened tobe in the wrong place and the right time for him.”