Woman Fights Off Attacker On Wildcat Canyon Trail In Richmond

RICHMOND (CBS SF) -- A woman fought off an unknown man who attacked her on a hiking trail in Wildcat Canyon Regional Park in Richmond on Friday evening, police said Saturday.

Around 6 p.m. Friday, East Bay Regional Park District police responded to a report of an assault on a hiker near the northeast edge of the park, according to park district police.

Officers met with the victim, who said she had been hiking on a trail when a male suspect grabbed her from behind and attempted to pull her toward a nearby wooded area, according to police.

The woman fought back, screamed and was able to escape the suspect, who fled the area on foot, police said.

Officers conducted an extensive search of the park and the surrounding area near McBryde and Park avenues with the aid of a California Highway Patrol helicopter but were unable to locate the suspect.

He is described as a light-skinned, possibly Hispanic male in his mid 20s to mid 30s with an average height and build and messy facial hair, according to police. He was wearing a red hooded sweatshirt at the time of the incident.

Anyone with information about this crime is asked to call East Bay Regional Park District police at (510) 881-1833.

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