Vernon Police Continue Search for Attack Suspect
A woman was attacked on Rails-to-Trails path Sept. 19.
Police released this sketch based on the description of a man they said tried to attack a woman on trails in Vernon.
Vernon police were back out Tuesday evening gathering information about a suspect thatattacked a woman along the Rails-to-Trails path last week.
Officers canvassed the area between 5:30 p.m. and 8 p.m. talking to people who may have seen something the night of the attack.
A woman was walking her dog on Rails-to-Trails Sept. 19 around 7 p.m. between Hartford Turnpike and Center Road when a man jogged toward her. He ran past her, then approached her from behind, made a few comments to the victim and then attacked her, according to police. Investigators said the attack was sexually motivated.
The woman fought and screamed for help, as the man pinned her to the ground and tried to keep her from yelling, police said. He finally let her go and ran toward route 30.
Police have received a number of tips since the incident, and said they believe the suspect frequented the Rails-to-Trails system and may have been seen by several people that night.
The suspect is described as being in his late 30s, between 5-feet 9-inches and 6-feet tall with a thin build. He has gray hair with a short crew cut style haircut, police said. The man was wearing a white t-shirt and dark-colored jogging shorts. Police believe he may have changed his appearance since the incident.
The man would have been unaccounted for on Wednesday, Sept. 19, between the hours of 6 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. and may have changed his behavior and schedule by no longer running on the Rails-to-Trails or exercising around that time frame, police said.
Anyone with information is asked to call Vernon Police.
