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The victim parked her truck toward the back of the parking lot of the Redner's on Lincoln Highway in Middletown around 7:50 p.m. on Tuesday, April 16, when she was immediately approached by 41-year-old Daniel R. Pierson, of Yardley, Bucks County District Attorney Jennifer Schorn said.
Almost immediately after getting out, Pierson grabbed the woman from behind, Schorn said. The victim screamed and fought to free herself from the bearded Pierson's grip, but he refused to let go, Schorn said.
During the struggle, Pierson was able to pull down the victim's pants and yelled at her to shut up, then punched her in the face, causing a laceration and swelling, police said. He lifted and moved the woman toward his truck, but she continued to scream, which scared off Pierson, according to the DA.
Pierson ran back to his truck, which the victim described as an older model Ford F-150 or F-250, blue in color, and full of rust and dents. Investigators were able to identify a dark blue, older model Ford F-250 that passed through the area at 7:58 p.m. The truck was traced back to someone related to Pierson, who matched the victim's description of her attacker.
Pierson is known to police to be a methamphetamine user. On Wednesday at 2:43 p.m., the truck was found at a home in the 1500 block of Newport Road in Bristol Township. Pierson was taken into custody after leaving the home, driving a different vehicle, police said. He was wearing a black t-shirt and dark colored jeans.
Pierson was charged with criminal attempt to commit kidnapping to facilitate a felony, criminal attempt to commit kidnapping to inflict injury or terror, criminal attempt to commit rape by forcible compulsion, criminal attempt to commit rape by threat of forcible compulsion, unlawful restraint, false imprisonment and three counts of simple assault.
He was arraigned by Magisterial District Judge Frank W. Peranteau Sr. on Wednesday night and was sent to Bucks County Correctional Facility under $1 million bail.
The case was investigated by the Middletown Township Police Department, led by Detective Ryan Morrison, and is assigned for prosecution to First Assistant District Attorney Edward M. Louka.
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