Dog Saves Woman From Attacker

The Sarasota Police Department is on the hunt for a man it says attacked a woman from behind recently while she was out walking her dog.

Police say the woman was in the 1500 block of North Lockwood Ridge Road around 10:30 p.m.May 17 when a man came up behind her and strangled her with a metal wire.

“The victim’s dog was able to scare the suspect and the victim was able to fight off the suspect,” police department spokeswoman Genevieve Judge wrote in an email to media.

The man ran away after his victim and her dog fought back, Judge said. The woman, she said, is in her 30s and the dog she was walking is described as a large lab.

During canvassing of the neighborhood following the attack, a neighbor out walking his dog told police he saw a man hiding behind dumpsters in the area.

Police say their suspect is described as a white male who stands about 5 feet 11 inches in height. He weighs an estimated 220 pounds, has a muscular build and brown hair.

Police are urging residents to report suspicious activity whenever it’s spotted.

“We encourage anyone who might see something out of the ordinary to give our officers a call,” Det. Maria Llovio was quoted in Judge’s email as saying. “We would rather have an officer respond and have the call turn out to be nothing than not be called at all.”

Police are also urging residents to take care when walking at night. They offer these safety tips:

• Walk in well-lit areas and avoid dark alleys, parked cars and parking garages
• Bring a whistle along
• Do not wear headphones
• Be sure to walk with confidence and keep the head up

Anyone with information about the attack is asked to call Llovio at 941-364-7336. Anonymous tips may also be submitted through Crime Stoppers by calling 941-366-TIPS (8477) or going online to www.sarasotacrimestoppers.com.

Image via Shutterstock

See Also:

• Deadly Crash at Redneck Yacht Club Raises Red Flags
• Reward Offered for Cop Impersonator’s Capture

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