LEBANON, N.H. — Police in New Hampshire are looking for a man they say attacked a female hiker from behind.
It happened just before 6 p.m. Sunday, and although the supermoon was out, the woods were dark. Police say the suspect used that to his advantage.
"As safe as I think our community is, you certainly have to be cautious," Police Chief Richard Mello said.
Mello has warned hikers and bikers on the popular trail, which sits just across from Dartmouth Hitchcock Hospital, to be cautious after the 23-year-old woman was attacked.
“It’s very alarming to hear,” hiker Ann Justice told FOX25 Monday.
Investigators say the man snuck up behind the victim without warning.
“She was attacked from behind by a white male, who grabbed her and threw her to the ground and physically assaulted her,” Mello said.
The woman fought back and police say the suspect panicked and ran to the parking lot, where he left in a dark, four-door sedan.
He's described as a white male, 18-25 years old, with shaggy, blond hair. The victim said he was wearing a hooded sweatshirt and dark jeans.
“That's incredibly scary, I've never had anything but positive interactions with people out here,” biker Quinn Connell said. “It's kind of terrifying to think that that's a possibility.”
Still, hikers told FOX25 the woods are thick and it can put anyone who is alone in a vulnerable position.
Police say the suspect did make some statements to the victim during their struggle that might speak to what he was after, but they aren't ready to release that information to toe public yet.
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