A 22-year-old Falmouth man has been charged with assault after Portland Police say he followed a woman walking along Forest Avenue before allegedly throwing bodily fluids on her in what the victim described as a disturbing, unprovoked attack.
The incident occurred at approximately 6:12 p.m. on Wednesday, July 22, near 417 Forest Ave., at the corner of Dartmouth Street.
According to the Portland Police Department, a 33-year-old woman reported that a man exited a pickup truck, followed her for a short distance, and threw a substance from a small container onto her. A witness corroborated the woman’s account, telling officers she observed the man following the victim and appeared to see him throw something onto her.
Police quickly located the suspect, identified as Theo Orestis, 22, of Falmouth. After interviewing him, officers issued Orestis a criminal summons charging him with Class D Assault, a misdemeanor under Maine law.
Authorities noted that although Orestis was not taken into custody, the issuance of a criminal summons legally constitutes an arrest under Maine law.
Victim Says Substance Was Semen
The victim, identified publicly only as Julie, later shared details of the incident in a social media video that has since been viewed more than 100,000 times.
Julie, a registered nurse, said she immediately recognized the substance thrown onto her leg and buttocks as semen. She also said that because responding officers did not immediately collect the material as evidence, she used medical gloves to preserve the biological evidence herself before police returned the following day to retrieve additional evidence and review surveillance footage from nearby businesses.
The Portland Police Department has not publicly confirmed the nature of the substance, but police have stated that the material involved does not alter the criminal charge under the Maine Criminal Code.
Questions Raised Over Assault Charge
The case has generated widespread attention online, with many questioning why Orestis was not charged with a sex crime.
In response, the Portland Police Department stated that the facts of the case meet the legal elements of assault under Maine law and that “the substance involved does not change the classification of this offense.”
Under Maine law, Class D assault is punishable by up to 364 days in jail and a fine of up to $2,000, though sentencing ultimately rests with the court.
Whether additional charges could be filed remains unclear as the investigation continues.
Victim Speaks Out
Julie said she decided to publicly discuss the incident to warn other women who frequent the Forest Avenue and Back Cove areas for walking and exercise.
She said her goal is to raise awareness and encourage anyone who may have experienced a similar encounter to contact police. A victim advocate has been assigned to assist her throughout the case.
Portland Police are continuing to investigate and are asking anyone with information about this incident or similar encounters involving the suspect to contact investigators at 207-874-8575. Anonymous tips may also be submitted by texting PPDME followed by a message to 847411.
