At approximately 3:28 p.m. on January 29, Winchester Police officers were dispatched to Jim Barnett Park for a report of a sexual assault. The female victim reported that a male grabbed her inappropriately while she was jogging in the park. The suspect is described as a white male in his late twenties or early thirties, of medium height and build, with blonde hair. He was wearing a black jacket with light colored jeans and was last seen running through the wooded area near the outdoor pool. Officers searched the area but did not locate the suspect. No injuries were sustained during the incident.
This was an isolated incident; however, the Winchester Police Department would like to stress the importance of being aware of your surroundings at all times. Park your vehicle in well-lit areas and near other cars. Refrain from looking down at your cell phone while walking in public areas so that you can keep your eyes focused on what is ahead of and around you. If you listen to music while you walk or run, be sure to keep the volume at an appropriate level so that you can still sense what is going on around you. More safety tips like these can be found at this link (provided by the Road Runners Club of America).
If you have any information regarding the identity of the suspect, please contact the Winchester Police Department’s Criminal Investigations Divisions at 540-545-4704 and reference incident #18004153.