CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Editor's Note: This story discusses sexual assault, which may include descriptions of violent acts. Reader discretion is advised.
A woman walking along the McAlpine Creek Greenway in Charlotte Wednesday morning was assaulted by a suspect who also attempted to rape her, according to the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department.
Around 11 a.m., the woman was walking on the greenway near Margaret Wallace Road, which is located near Independence Boulevard and north of McAlpine Creek Park.
"A male suspect assaulted her and attempted to rape her," CMPD said in a tweet later in the day. "The victim was able to fight off the suspect."
The suspect may have injuries to his face or hands as a result of the victim fighting him off, police believe. The suspect is described as a 5 foot 6 inches tall Black man, with a heavy build, dreadlocks, and was wearing all black clothing at the time of the attack, according to police.
The woman suffered minor injuries and was taken by Medic ambulance to the Novant Health Matthews hospital for treatment.
CMPD is continuing to search for the suspect. Anyone with information about the suspect or the incident is asked to call Crime Stoppers at 704-334-1600.
WCNC Charlotte spoke with longtime Charlotteans who said it's unsettling to hear what happened. Brian Baum said he runs the greenway often, but won't let his wife come alone due to the risk.
He said he feels more safety measures should be in place.
"It gets really dark so there should be more lights for safety," Baum said.
Lee Jones, the director of Mecklenburg County Parks and Recreation, said the park system opens at dawn and closes at dusk.
"When they're out there on the greenway, it's best to be with someone, be aware of your surroundings," Jones said. "And if you don't have to use them in the evenings, it'd probably be best if you're not."
CMPD Captain of Special Victims Jim Wright added, "The greenways are safe as any other part of Charlotte. Overall it's safe. We just got to be vigilant."
Wright said situations like this, where the suspect and the victim don’t know each other, are rare.
"Stranger rapes or attempted rapes are a little more rare than other sexual assaults," Wright said. "[In] most sexual assaults, the victim knows their offender. They're some type of acquaintance. That's why this one catches our attention more. But we've seen no trends in this particular area on sexual assaults at the park."
Following the reported attack in Charlotte and the deadly abduction of a woman in Memphis, runners and event organizers are planning with safety in mind.
Organizers of the Historical Morganton Festival's upcoming run said they also have a plan in place to keep people safe.
Abby Nelson, the festival's assistant director, told WCNC, "We have safety precautions in place for the Sunrise Run on the Greenway and we encourage anyone to come out and have fun, run the race. But if there's any concerns, please bring a buddy with you as well."
Contact Jane Monreal at jmonreal@wcnc.com and follow her on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
Contact Austin Walker at awalker@wcnc.com and follow him on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
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