OGDEN, Utah (ABC 4 News) – A woman was attacked while jogging prompting police to issue warnings.
It happened in broad day light along a popular jogging trail in Ogden.
A woman was attacked by a stranger hiding in the bushes. She survived and called 9-1-1.
Here’s what she told the dispatcher.
"I was running down this trail and he kind of stepped out. I'm not sure where he was and he said ‘Hi how are you doing?’ and then he tried to throw me down on the ground and I started screaming and kicking at him and then he got up and ran away, ran down the trail."
It happened along the trail head at Mount Ogden.
Police said they are looking for a white male, 5 feet-10 inches tall and weighing about 150 pounds. He was also wearing a black hooded sweat shirt and blue jeans.
"We have hundreds of people on those trails at a time and it doesn't happen very often,” said Lt. Tony Fox. “Still it means you should be careful.”
Police said hiking or jogging in numbers is always a good idea.
Caitlyn Anderson was at Mount Ogden City Park yesterday when police approached her with news about the attack.
“I was pretty scared because I was alone and dozed off while reading my book,” Anderson said.
But she returned to the park today and this time she was prepared.
She went jogging with a friend and in her backpack was an array of self-defense items.
“This is pepper spray and these are my keys with an alarm,” she said. “I need to have something to be prepared for this and so I need to be ready."
But when ABC4 News talked with experts on self defense, the girls appeared to have made a mistake.
Manager Craig Ball of Impact Guns has everything to defend oneself.
"This is called a Sharkie and it looks like a Sharpie (pen) but it’s an impact weapon for a strike," he said.
“We also have pepper sprays, different sizes and everybody should carry a knife, you use it everyday."
He said a popular item for women is small firearms that weigh about three pounds.
But he says all that doesn't work if you carry it in your backpack and not in your hand.
"The attack is going to be very fast, very violent very over," Ball said. "And if you are fumbling and digging for it, it’s over before you every have a chance to get to it.”
