Joggers, Cyclists On Alert After Teen Attacked On Fox River Trail
CHICAGO (CBS) -- A bicyclist in Elgin scared off a man attacking a young woman who was jogging on the Fox River Trail on Wednesday.
Police said the 18-year-old woman was out for a run shortly before noon Wednesday, when she was jumped by an unknown man who threw her to the ground at McBride Street, north of Kimball Street.
The victim didn't suffer any injuries in the fall, and a cyclist who saw the attack stopped to help her, and the attacker ran away.
Police combed the area for several hours after the attack, bringing in K-9 units to assist, but could not locate the suspect.
Those using the trail on Thursday said they were on their guard.
"I've had a problem in Geneva. My daughter has had a problem in Batavia. They're beautiful, but it's just they're not safe," Bonnie Poulton said.
Bob Collins said it appears many people using the trail aren't paying attention to what's going on around them.
"Most of them I see all have headphones on, or ear buds, or something. So I don't know if they're paying attention," he said.
Elgin Police Deputy Chief Bill Wolf said there is no record of any similar incidents in the past year.
"As a precaution, we are doing extra surveillance in the area. We had officers on bike along the trail," he said.
Police said they have not determined a motive for the attack, but it did not appear sexual in nature, and nothing was stolen from the jogger.
The attacker was described as a white male with reddish/brown hair and was last seen wearing a green shirt and light colored pants.
Anyone with information should call the Elgin Police Department Major Investigations Division at 847-289-2600.