2 arrests after female jogger randomly attacked in Fairmount Park

FAIRMOUNT PARK (WPVI) -- Two teenagers have been arrested after a female jogger was assaulted in what police are calling a random attack on a popular trail in Philadelphia's Fairmount Park.

It happened along Forbidden Drive around 6:30 p.m. Wednesday.

The 24-year-old victim told Action News she was running along the well-traveled trail when a group of males began harassing her.

Suddenly, she says, they jumped her.

"One smacked my behind, and then another one came up and started hitting me," she said.

Visibly shaken and clutching an ice pack, 24-year-old Tanaya spoke with Action News along with her mother, Angela.

They did not want to give their last names.

"She called me crying, and I just came," Angela said. "She asked them why, and they jumped on her, and gave her a busted lip. Her eye is slightly black," Angela said.

Tanaya told police she did not know any of the attackers.

She was carrying her keys and cell phone at the time of the assault, but neither was taken.

Investigators say four boys were behind the attack, and that it was random.

Action News was there as police arrested two teens Wednesday evening and put them in squad cars.

Charges against both were pending.

Meantime, word of the incident spread quickly along Forbidden Drive.

Libby Rens, a jogger from Manayunk said, "It makes me nervous. I like to run in a safe place. And it's daylight and a beautiful area, and this is a very unfortunate thing that happened."

Police say they are increasing patrols along the trail, which includes some sections that are quite secluded.

For her part, Tanaya's mother told Action News she is grateful the outcome wasn't even worse.

"I'm hurt it happened to my daughter. I'm hurt," she said. "I don't want her to be out here again by herself. And I just want everyone to be aware of what's going on around here."

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