Authorities in Massachusetts are asking for the public's help in finding a sexual assault suspect whom they say attacked a woman at knifepoint.
According to Saugus Police, a woman was running with her dog on Nason Road Tuesday evening when she heard fast footsteps behind her. A male allegedly grabbed the woman by her hair and pushed her into a tree, telling her he had a knife and ordering her not scream.
"There is no indication at this time that the victim knew the assailant. We believe it to be a random assault," Saugus Police Lt. Ron Giorgetti said.
The woman told police he grabbed her chest and genitals and struck her face when her dog began to bark, causing the other neighborhood dogs to bark, which police say may have spooked the suspect because he ran away.
Police say the victim noted the suspect was wearing a long-sleeved red shirt, dark pants that were possibly jeans and clean white sneakers as he ran away. He was described as tall, thin and was wearing cologne.
Anyone with information or who may have been in the area at the time of the assault is asked to call Saugus Police at 781-941-1199.
"Physically [for the victim], there was nothing that required further treatment, but emotionally, I can imagine anybody at that hour being assaulted, indicating that there was a knife would certainly be traumatized by this event, especially given the area and the residential neighborhood," Lt. Giorgetti said.
