KINGWOOD, Texas -- Nerves are on edge in Kingwood after a man ambushed and assaulted a woman at a popular park.
The attack happened late last Friday afternoon on the south loop of the walking trail at East End Park.
Houston police say the suspect grabbed the victim from behind, choked her and dragged her into the woods. He punched her several times, touched her inappropriately under her shorts and bit her in the inner thigh.
The victim was able to kick the man in the groin and get away. She ran to a nearby friend’s house and called for help.
Ismail Khan and James Moore visit the park often.
“Honestly, it’s absolutely horrible because, like I said, I walk my dogs here at night," Moore said. "I bring my sister-in-law and my four or five-year-old niece here all the time. It’s really awful to hear.”
The friends never felt unsafe at the park before, but now encourage visitors to use the buddy system.
“Men need to kind of hold each other accountable and also being a woman walking at night; it’s sad to say but you need to have a buddy with you whether it’s another girlfriend or a guy.”
The suspect is described as a burly man, between 20 and 35 years old, around 5’11 and 225 to 250 pounds.
He was wearing a dark hoodie with a black skeleton mask bandana that covered his face.
“The fact that they’re still looking for this guy is kind of shocking because he’s out there," Khan said.
If you have any information, call Crime Stoppers at 713-222-TIPS (8477) or the HPD Special Victims Division at 713-308-1140.
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