Groton — Police say a Ledyard officer on routine patrol interrupted an attempted sexual assault off a road near the Groton-Ledyard town line last week, leading to multiple charges against a Waterford man.

Ledyard officer Gary Butters told Groton Town police that he observed David Willox, 24, of 58 Louise St., Waterford, on top of an unidentified female in a grassy area near a driveway beside Willox's Lincoln Continental off North Road at about 2 a.m. Thursday, according to a narrative by Groton officer Eric Laporte.

Butters was not immediately available for an interview, but Ledyard Police Chief John Rich said the officer's actions "interrupted a crime in progress." He said the department would recognize Butters for "a remarkable bit of heads-up policing."

Laporte, who responded to a request for help from Ledyard police, arrived to find Butters walking with a female toward a cruiser. The woman's clothing was disheveled, including a torn shirt, and she was crying, Laporte said.

The woman told police that she met Willox at a downtown Mystic restaurant and agreed to go with him to her house. But later Willox allegedly "took her phone hostage" and refused to return it, threatening he would rape her if she did not listen to him, the woman said.

She alleged Willox then pulled over, walked around to the passenger side and grabbed her hair to pull her out of the car. She told police she lost some of her fingernails while fighting with him; Laporte said he later found multiple artificial fingernails near the passenger side door. A brush patch near the car was disturbed and matted down, he added.

When police arrived, Willox told her to "be cool," the woman said.

Laporte noted the woman appeared to be under the influence of alcohol or drugs; she told him that she uses seizure medications and had consumed alcohol that night. Neither the woman nor Willox remembered each other's names, Laporte said.

Willox claimed to police that the woman had asked him to pull up to the dirt driveway because she had "lost her phone." He said they were outside of the car because they were searching for the phone, but "was unable to answer why he was on top" of her, Laporte said.

Groton police arrested Willox, who faces charges of criminal attempt at first-degree sexual assault, first-degree unlawful restraint, second-degree breach of peace and second-degree reckless endangerment.

Willox is being held on a $200,000 bond and is scheduled to appear in New London Superior Court on Sept. 19.

In July 2017, Waterford police charged Willox with fourth-degree sexual assault. He was released on a $25,000 bond. That case is pending in court.

In July 2018, Waterford police charged Willox with second-degree assault with a firearm, second-degree assault, first-degree reckless endangerment, third-degree strangulation, first-degree unlawful restraint, interfering with an emergency call and first-degree threatening. He was released on a $100,000 bond and that case is pending.    

b.kail@theday.com