Three Trail Attacks, Likely Three Suspects

Three women have been attacked or almost attacked on pedestrian or bike trails in the past three weeks, but police suspect that more than on person is behind the crimes.

CBS 46 Atlanta reports that police in Paulding, Bartow, and Fulton counties are still trying to gather evidence on the attacks which happened in their jurisdictions, and have not made any arrests in any of the cases. Police in all three counties agree that it is highly unlikely that the same person perpetrated each crime due to the distances involved.

On July 29, Tina Waddell was running on the Silver Comet Trail in Paulding County when an unknown assailant beat her unconscious. A reward is being offered for information that will lead to the attacker’s arrest.

On Aug. 5, a woman riding a bicycle in Bartow County’s Red Top Mountain State Park was nearly struck with taser probes fired by a man hiding off the trail.

On Aug. 11, an Emory University student jogging on the Freedom Park Trail in Atlanta was chased by a would-be attacker, but was scared off when the woman assumed a defensive pose and began yelling at her pursuer.

Dr. Dave Davis, Director of Piedmont Hospital’s Psychiatric Clinic suggested to CBS Atlanta that the heavy media attention given to Waddell’s attack may have pushed other people into committing copycat attacks.