Chicago police have released a sketch of a man wanted for the two attacks, both off-duty officers. A similar attack reportedly took place Tuesday around 11 a.m. three miles away on the North Branch Trail near Caldwell Woods and targeted another jogger near Milwaukee and Devon. The Cook County Forest Preserve police say the description of both attackers is the same.
On Thursday, the officer was jogging on a dirt trail at Bryn Mawr and Lowell in Sauganash when the man rode his bike alongside her around 2:45 p.m. Thursday. He tried to take her down and remove her clothes, but she yelled for help and was able to fight him off. Officials said she used such force the attacker may need medical attention.
The off-duty officer was not seriously hurt. She was treated and released from a local hospital.
Police continue to search for the suspect, described as a Hispanic male with a light complexion, 22-26 years old, 5'7" and 140-150 pounds with short black hair. He was wearing a gray t-shirt and blue jeans.
Police issued a community alert out of the Albany Park district. Now, women are exercising caution. Karilyn Knapp and Patrice Claeys are walking together.
"Well, it's scary. This is a really nice neighborhood and we don't expect things but we know things can happen anywhere. We always walk in pairs. We've been doing it for years," Knapp said.
"To me, it bothers me that it's so predatory. That it seems that the person had intent, and was scouting, looking for someone walking alone," Claeys said.
"That's very gutsy, very gutsy. What can I tell you?" Katy Finnegan, who was out walking her puppy, said.
Four years ago, a similar attack was reported in the same area in which a 47-year-old woman was assaulted by a man on a bike. She was able to run away and call police.
"You're kind of always aware of what you're doing, and your surroundings. You know we shouldn't really wear earphones when walking," Lily Devey sad.
Hundreds of Chicago police officers live in the Sauganash neighborhood.
"To me it bothers me that it's so predatory that it seems that the person had intent and was scouting looking for someone walking alone," said Patrice Claeys.
