A woman reported being assaulted while walking around Capitol Lake on Tuesday.
She told Olympia police she was walking on the gravel section of the trail between Heritage Park and Marathon Park during the middle of the day. According to the report, she had her headphones in and couldn’t hear what was going on around her.
The woman said a man came up from behind, pulled her right shoulder and told her she “had to come with him right now.”
The woman was able to pull away and reported the incident to police.
People who use the trail often were surprised to hear what happened.
“This is someplace where we think it’s safe to come, because a lot of people come here every day and all times of the day, so it is really upsetting,” said Yo Robertson.
“I’m shocked, actually, because we’ve lived here 17 years and I’ve never heard of that happening before,” Denise Merz said.
Washington State Patrol Sgt. Darren Wright said attackers often target people who are preoccupied.
“Oftentimes the attacker has walked past the victim prior to, and they’re trying to see if you’re paying attention,” he said.
To stay safe, Wright said people should:
• walk with friends or pets
• avoid secluded areas
• tell someone where you're going and when you should return
• if it's dark, bring a light and wear bright clothing
• hear what's happening around you
“Whether that’s an attacker or a vehicle or a bicycle or anything that could come up and scare you or startle you or possibly injure you,” he said regarding the last piece of advice.
Many people said this incident is a good reminder to be more vigilant.
“I need to be more observant, because I tend to get in my own zone and just walk,” said Gail Dickerman.
Authorities want people to call 911 to report dangers, no matter how small they may think they are.
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