Woman Attacked At Popular Springs Park
Officers from the Colorado Springs Police Department and K-9 units searched the Van Diest Park, near East Fountain Boulevard and South Chelton Road, for a man who attacked a female jogger around 8:30 Monday morning.
The victim, Mirian Soto, said the man came up behind her and threw her to the ground. She said the attacker smelled of alcohol.
?I said ?What do you want?? and he said ?I want money,?? said Soto. Then she explained to the man that she had no money with her.
Soto said the man also asked for sex.
When Soto screamed, she said the man tried to cover her mouth and then threatened to kill her if she continued.
According to Soto, there were four other adults and a couple of children at the park when she was attacked, but nobody responded to her cries for help.
?He was on top of me, and I?m still yelling to people to help me. Nobody helped me,? she said.
Soto said she felt very alone, and attempted to fight off her attacker. She managed to roll the man on his back and began to choke him.
?OK, OK, OK. I?m leaving, I?m leaving,? Soto said the man told her. He then managed to get out of her grasp and walk away.
Soto told KRDO Newschannel 13 that even as the man walked away, the others at the park still did nothing.
?I was still yelling to the people when he was walking. I was still yelling to the people for help, and nobody heard me,? Soto said.
Police and K-9 units were unable to capture the attacker, and are now asking for the help of the community in finding him.
The man is described as a thin, black male in his 20s. Police say he is about 5 feet 11 inches tall and is clean-shaven. During the time of the attack he was dressed in all black, including black gloves.
Anybody with information is encouraged to call the police right away.
Police are also asking people in the area to be vigilant.
?If you?re going to be out, just be aware of your surroundings. Be aware of who?s around. When you walk, run, do it with some confidence. Don?t look like a victim, look like you?re going to be somebody that is going to fight back. If you are assaulted, fight back,? said Joe Richardson with the Colorado Springs Police Department.
