PORTLAND, Maine — Portland police have increased patrols of the Back Cove area following a report that a woman was sexually assaulted on the trail just after noon Wednesday.
A 34-year-old woman told police she was walking in the vicinity of the soccer field adjacent to Interstate 295 around 12:15 p.m., when a white male in his late 20s or early 30s grabbed her, dragged her off the path and into an area of high grass and sexually assaulted her, according to a release from the Portland Police Department.
Then the man allegedly fled on foot when two people passing by noticed them and asked whether everything was alright. The victim drove herself to a local hospital, at which point police were notified.
The perpetrator is described as a white male with dark hair and a goatee-type beard, between 6-foot-1 and 6-foot-3 and of an average build. He was wearing shiny orange shorts and a dark tank top shirt. The man had no visible tattoos.
Police have increased patrols of the area, including bicycle patrols, and remind anyone walking in the area to carry a cellphone and report any suspicious activity. They recommend people walk in groups, be aware of their surroundings and, “if confronted, be as vocal as possible and draw attention to yourself.”
Anyone who was in the area and may have witnessed the incident or seen someone matching the alleged perpetrator’s description is urged to call police at 874-8575.