Suspect Arrested in Assault on Former Senator Martha McSally During Jogging Incident
ICARO Media Group
In a shocking turn of events, an arrest has been made in the assault on former Senator Martha McSally, who was attacked while jogging along the Missouri River. The Council Bluffs Police Department announced that Dominic M. Henton, a 25-year-old transient, has been identified as the primary suspect in the case.
The incident occurred in Council Bluffs, Iowa, on Wednesday when McSally was approached from behind and "engulfed in a bear hug," according to a video statement posted on her Facebook page immediately after the attack. In the video, she detailed how the assailant molested and fondled her until she fought back, chasing him into the brush before contacting law enforcement.
Council Bluffs police, utilizing surveillance footage and other investigative means, were able to positively identify Henton as the suspect. Released photos depicted Henton following McSally over the Bob Kerry Pedestrian Bridge and onto the trail. The department also shared images of Henton in the area prior to and after the alleged assault.
In the early hours of Friday morning, Henton was apprehended by the Omaha Police Department in Omaha, Nebraska. Authorities report that he is currently in custody, awaiting extradition back to Council Bluffs to face charges of assault with intent to commit sexual abuse.
News of the arrest brought relief to McSally, who took to Facebook once more to express her gratitude. "Omaha Police Department arrested my attacker around 4 this morning," she wrote, accompanying her post with prayer hands and flexed biceps emojis.
The incident has deeply affected McSally, who admitted that it brought up traumatic memories of previous instances of sexual abuse and assault. She has previously spoken about being raped by a superior officer during her time in the Air Force at an Armed Services Committee Subcommittee hearing on military sexual assault in 2019. McSally, who made history as the first female fighter pilot to fly a combat mission, revealed feeling powerless and blaming herself for the assault.
However, this recent attack allowed her to reclaim her power. "He tried to take power from me, but I turned it on him, and he was running from me instead of the other way around," McSally declared in a video statement.
As McSally continues to process the traumatic incident, she urged others facing trauma to take the time to "process it" in order to heal and move forward.
The arrest of Dominic M. Henton serves as a significant development in the case, bringing justice one step closer for former Senator Martha McSally. Authorities are committed to a thorough investigation to ensure that the incident is handled appropriately and that McSally's bravery and strength in facing her attacker are acknowledged and respected.