Jogger assaulted in Tredyffrin Township

TREDYFFRIN TWP. (WPVI) -- Police are searching for the man who assaulted a woman on a trail in Tredyffrin Township.

Police say it was about 2:45 p.m. Monday when a woman jogging alone on a trail in the Treyburn development saw a man sitting on the curb outside a tunnel who appeared to be in some kind of distress:

"She made eye contact with him and he asked if she could help him up. So as she did, she reached her hand down, he grabbed her, pulled her leg, and threw her to the ground," Sgt. Ryan Scott of the Tredyrffrin Township Police Department said.

Police say the man attempted to sexually assault the jogger, but she struggled with him and somehow managed to break free.

"She ran away and as she was running, she ran so fast, she came out of one of her shoes and dropped her cell phone. At that point, she didn't look back, so we have no idea which way the man went," Sgt. Scott said.

The victim ran to a nearby business in the Evolve Corporate Center and called police.

Officers along with a K-9 unit responded, but were unable to locate the attacker who remains on the loose.

Accordingly, police are urging joggers and others in the area to use caution.

"Certainly carry your cellphone, go in pairs if you can, and just be wary and observant of who you approach. Someone who may be asking for help, you want to help them, we all want to help them, but use extra caution," Sgt. Scott said.

Police describe the suspect as a very tan white male or Hispanic with a stocky or muscular build. He was wearing a light blue, short sleeve shirt and light colored shorts.

The victim says the assailant had what appeared to be a six-inch scar with pronounce stitches on one of his calf of one of his legs.

Anyone with information is being asked to call police.