Sketch released of suspect in 2 sexual assaults in north metro

Brooklyn Center police have released a sketch of the suspect wanted in connection with two sexual assaults in Brooklyn Park and Brooklyn Center Thursday morning, WCCO-TV reports.

The first attack happened in Brooklyn Park around 6:40 a.m. Thursday in the 9600 block of Linden Lane when the victim says two men broke into her house and one of them sexually assaulted her.

The second attack happened about a half-hour later and five miles away in Brooklyn Center, in the 7200 block of Girard Ave.

Authorities quickly concluded that the two cases -- because of the close time frame and proximity of the locations -- were connected.

See the full sketch sheet from Brooklyn Center Police below.

WCCO says that in both cases, the victims described their attacker as a medium to dark-skinned black male in his 30s, who was clean shaven, had crooked teeth and a wide nose, and a husky build. They also said he was wearing a black sweatshirt and a hat, either a baseball cap or a knit cap.

Brooklyn Center police are offering a $5,000 reward for information that leads to an arrest.