Sexual assault suspect is being protected by police

I don’t know if I should, for legal reasons say this hypothetical?

Today, I was called in to look at pictures of 6 suspects. I arrived and took a look at the photos presented by a female who told me that the suspect could or could not be in the Line-up. I looked over all the photos and only one resembled the man. The actual man who assaulted me had strong creases in his face that I remember vividly. The man who looked similar in the lineup had a smooth complexion. No visible creases. I informed the woman that only this image looked like him but I don’t want to say it’s him because of the difference. I also don’t want an innocent person thrown in jail just because of slight similarity to the perpetrator. The answer was then a written as no, no one in the line up was the ‘suspect’ I remember.

The detective who I originally spoke with brought me out of the room and said that the guy who I thought looked similar was actually the suspect. His picture was taken a month before my assault. I told him that the perp looks a lot different now.

The detective then said since I didn’t identify that image as the man who assaulted me, the whole case is over. There is no more investigating to do.

As we were talking, he was guiding to the exit, briskly.

I asked him if he ever found the report of the day that officers met the suspect and spoke with him. He said” you know, offficers can get tired and forget to write stuff down. There is no report but just know I know who the suspect is.”

He said that there are many other woman who have reported this very man for the same crime. “It was just groping, not too big of a deal.” He also told me not to think about it and just stay out of the area, even though we both know I live basically beside that gas station. He said stay safe and did not speak anymore about the case. I was ushered outside.

In a way it feels like this suspect is being protected.

I called him a few minutes later on the phone to ask for the case number, his name and ID number, and his supervisors name.

What can I do to get justice? For me and the other women?

Location: Prince George’s County, Maryland