Cops: Woman Sexually Assaulted on Trail

The man dragged her off the path and into an area of high grass and bush

Sunny skies with a cool breeze make for a perfect day to enjoy the Back Cove in Portland, Maine, but Thursday, some trail walkers say they're feeling uncomfortable.

"I'm feeling a little bit nervous about it right now," said Yaselis Toohey. "I used to walk this almost every day. Now I hear about this and I'm like, 'hmm.'"

Word is spreading about an alleged sexual assault on part of the path Wednesday afternoon, in the tall grass near the half-mile marker.

"Just the fact that something this brutal and savage and violent could happen to someone who lives here, while they're on this trail in broad daylight," said Shaun Carland. "It's heartbreaking."

Police say it happened around lunch time Wednesday afternoon.

"I was just shocked that it was at 12:15 in the daytime,"

A woman in her 30s reported that a man grabbed her, took her to the ground and assaulted her until two people came walking by.

Portland Police are looking for those two witnesses and anyone else who may have seen the suspect. He's described as six feet tall with brown hair and is said to have been wearing a dark tank top and bright orange shorts.

Police will be stepping up patrols and they're asking people to stay in groups when possible and report anything suspicious if they see it.

Anyone with information is asked to call police at 207-874-8479.

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