A woman was taking a stroll with her 1-year-old child through Wills Park in Alpharetta on Tuesday when she had to fight off a man who tried to sexually assault her, police said.
The man grabbed the woman from the cement trail near an equestrian center, forced her against the wall and attempted to pepper spray her. But the woman fought, police said, and her screams got the attention of other people in the park and the suspect ran away.
Police said the victim escaped the attack with no major injuries. Her child, who was left in the stroller on the path, was unharmed. Police on Wednesday said they have “some strong leads” on who the attacker might be and plan to work with the victim and the Georgia Bureau of Investigation to create a sketch of the attacker.
“Much to her credit, she fought off the suspect,” said John Robison, the director of public safety for Alpharetta. “… I am very confident that we are going to apprehend the suspect in this case.”
Robison added: “(The victim) elbowed and kicked and screamed just like she should have and did a fantastic job. And because of that and some folks who were close by, he was not successful in his ultimate goal.”
The woman described the suspect as a 35- to 40-year-old black male wearing a gray “mechanic-type” shirt with patches, gray pants and all black shoes.
Some people nearby who rushed over when they heard the woman scream saw the suspect too. There are security cameras in that area as well, police said.
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The victim was “shaken” but has been very cooperative and helpful to police in apprehending the suspect, Robison said. He would not say whether the woman was an Alpharetta resident, and did not say how long the attack lasted.
While speaking with media on Wednesday, Robison was adamant that Alpharetta’s parks are safe and that this was a “rare” and “isolated” incident. Police will increase their presence at the city’s parks with cars, bikes and foot patrols.
Anyone with information about the crime or suspect is asked to contact the Alpharetta Department of Public Safety, and can do so by submitting a crime tip through its Facebook page.
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