AKRON, Ohio — Akron police are searching for a suspect accused of attacking a woman jogging along the Towpath Trail near the West Bartges trailhead.
Police say another person on the trail intervened and saved the victim, but the attacker is still at-large.
The attack happened June 28 at around 8:30 p.m. According to police officials, the woman was attacked from behind while she was jogging and taken to the ground.
Police say a different man watched it happen and scared the attacker away. The victim was taken to the hospital for her injuries, but police say she is physically OK.
“I think it’s a good example of, if you’re out and about and you see something odd, again, don’t hesitate to call us," said Akron Police Lieutenant Matt Whitmire. "In this specific circumstance, obviously I’m not going to tell someone to be a vigilante, but I’m just very thankful that individual was there and able to scare the attacker away.”
While police are still searching for the person responsible, they do have an idea of what the suspect looks like.
He is described as a white male, around 5' 10" inches tall with a thin build.
Whitmire says the department has increased security in direct response to the attack. Now, officers are patrolling the area and have cleared out surrounding buildings to ensure there are no threats.
If you have any information on this attack, you are encouraged to contact the Akron Police Department. You can submit a tip here.