08/02/2007
Police to patrol East Rock trails
William Kaempffer , Register Staff
http://www.nhregister.com/site/news.cfm ... 7576&rfi=6

-NEW HAVEN — The Police Department will periodically walk the trails at the base of East Rock Park after a woman was attacked there Tuesday.
At an afternoon press conference Wednesday, Lt. Patrick Redding, the head of detectives, reiterated the importance for joggers and walkers to exercise caution and common sense.

Meanwhile, for the next few weeks, police will be in the area looking for anyone matching the description of the assailant and talking to people. Redding said patrol officers now would periodically walk the trails. Police described the suspect as a light-skinned Hispanic male in his 20s with short hair. He was 5 feet 6 inches tall and was wearing a white shirt and blue jeans. (My note: But...does he have the new ID card???)

Police suggested people stay in more visible areas or if they choose to run the trails do it in groups or at least stay in close proximity to other joggers or walkers. The attack happened Tuesday in broad daylight. A woman walking her small dog was attacked from behind on a walking trail that runs along the Mill River. She had a glass bottle smashed on the back of her head.

"It was a serious attack," said Redding. "We don't know what his intent was beyond the assault. It could have been much worse than it was."

The victim yelled for help and the two tussled on the ground, sending the assailant fleeing. She came out of the woods bloody but not seriously hurt.

While the neighborhood has occasional problems with street robberies, car break-ins and burglaries, attacks like this have been uncommon.

"This is one of the safest areas in the city," said Redding.

Elaine Pena, a Yale professor who just moved here from Chicago, was running the path Tuesday when she saw police at the crime scene. When she moved here, she had asked other joggers about the trails.

"There's heavy traffic on the path, so I never felt unsafe," she said late Tuesday. The incident was enough to dissuade her from taking that route again. "I'm not going to run with my music on, and I'm not going to run here anymore."