APD holds run/walk promoting safety awareness

The Austin Police Department held a run/walk event this morning in order to promote safety awareness. The event comes after another report of a jogger being attacked while out running on a trail.

The latest reported attack happened around 6:40 a.m. on September 27 in the 1700 block of South Lake Shore Boulevard which is along Lady Bird Lake east of I-35. A woman was running along the trail, when all of a sudden police say she was grabbed from behind. The man reportedly tried to pull her into the bushes but she was able to break away.

ANOTHER RUNNER ATTACKED ON LADY BIRD LAKE TRAIL

The suspect in the Lake Shore attack is described as follows:

Hispanic male
Forties
Dark complexion
Approximately 5' 11"
Short dark hair, no facial hair
Greasy sheen to face
Smelled like sweat
Spoke Spanish to the victim
Wearing hoodie, baggie shorts, and tennis shoes

Two similar incidents have happened in recent weeks. The first on August 22nd, where a woman was running on the Austin High School track near Lady Bird Lake around 5 a.m. and was grabbed from behind.

Then on Sept. 15th there was a sexual assault of a woman running on the trail off Rainey Street.

WOMAN SEXUALLY ASSAULTED ON AUSTIN'S HIKE AND BIKE TRAIL

Part of the goal of today's event was to educate people and provide outdoor running/walking safety tips.

Runners are holding a separate event on October 1st.