A 23-year-old woman jogging on Northern Virginia’s Four Mile Run Trail was raped at knifepoint, officials said.
The incident took place at about 7:50 p.m. Tuesday at the trail near mile marker 44 in Glencarlyn Park.
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The woman was confronted by the assailant, whom she had passed minutes before. The assailant brandished a knife, forcefully removed her off the trail and into taller vegetation and raped her, according to the Arlington County Police Department.
Arlington police spokesman Dustin Sternbeck said the woman was “extremely scared” during the incident.
The attacker fled the scene, and the victim ran home and drove herself to the hospital, police officials said.
The woman had only lived in Arlington for about six months and was new to the D.C. area. Sternbeck said she had earphones in both ears and did not have her cellphone with her when she was attacked.
The attacker is described as a Hispanic man, about 30 years old, 5-foot-5 to 6 feet tall and 140 pounds, with short black hair, brown eyes and no facial hair.
The victim had reported that he had a small head, a very high-pitched voice, spoke very limited English. She told authorities the man was wearing a green T-shirt with the word “George” across the front, which she believed to be George Mason University lettering.
Anyone with information can contact Detective Greg Sloan at 703-228-4198 or [email protected].
Sternbeck said that police maintain a constant presence on the Four Mile Run Trail. However, “we can’t be on the trail at every location at all times,” he said.
Sternbeck offered the following tips for joggers to protect themselves:
> Try to jog in pairs, especially when it starts to get darker.
> Only have one ear plug in if you are going to jog while listening to music.
> Carry a cellphone with you.
> “Trust your instincts” and take appropriate measures if something doesn’t seem right.
Four Mile Run Trail was in the news last month when a bicyclist struck an 80-year-old woman on the path in the area of the 4900 block of Columbia Pike. The woman fell backwards, sustained significant head trauma and later died as a result of her injuries, officials said.
