TRAVERSE CITY — Deputies continue to search for a man who tried to drag a woman into a wooded area along the Boardman Lake Trail.
A Garfield Township woman was walking her dog on a section of the trail behind the Lakepointe Village apartment complex Sunday afternoon when a man came up from behind, wrapped his arms around her and tried to drag her into the woods. She was able to fight him off, run away and call police.
"I'm sure it was terrifying for her, as you would expect, and it's also very troubling for our area," Grand Traverse Undersheriff Nate Alger said. "Nobody knows what his intentions were, and it was clear he was trying to move her against her will into a wooded area, which is extremely frightening."
The man, in his 20s or 30s, is of medium build and had long, black hair tied in a ponytail. The woman didn't see him prior to the attack, Alger said.
"He came out of nowhere and wrapped his arms around her," he said.
The woman was shaken, but wasn't injured, Alger said.
Deputies put out a description of the man and continued to work on leads this afternoon. Finding and arresting the suspect is a top priority for the department, Alger said, considering the crime's disturbing nature.
"What is he willing to do? Where is he willing to stop? We want to get him into custody as quickly as possible," Alger said.
Anyone with information about the incident or suspect can call Grand Traverse County central dispatch at 231-922-4550 or Silent Observer at 231-947-TIPS.
Region
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