Sonoma County Sheriff's Office

Woman Reports Rape Attempt While Jogging on Trail Near Sonoma: Sheriff

A 24-year-old woman was the victim of an attempted rape Sunday while she was jogging on a trail near Sonoma, according to the Sonoma County Sheriff's Office.

The woman was attacked around 1:15 p.m. in the area of Norrbom Road and the Sonoma Overlook Trail, Sgt. Spencer Crum said.

The woman heard a man yell at her before she was pushed from behind and fell on the east side of Norrbom Road. The suspect fell on top of the woman, punched her several times and tried to rape her, but she fought him off, escaped and called for help, Crum said.

The woman was treated for injuries at the hospital and released.

Sheriff's deputies, a Santa Rosa police K-9 team and the sheriff's helicopter Henry 1 searched the area but did not locate the suspect, Crum said.

A homemade warning sign had been posted on the trail Monday, and the violence had people thinking twice about using the popular trail.

"It's scary because I do go up there often," one visitor said. "Now I'm like do I want to go up there by myself even with other people? You never know what you're going to find."

Norrbom Road is an extension of First Street West past Arnold Field and the Mountain Cemetery, Crum said.

The suspect is described as a white man in his 50s with a white bushy beard. He was wearing a black zip-up hooded sweatshirt, black sweater, black beanie and dirty jeans. The woman said the man appeared to be homeless, Crum said.

Detectives were reaching out to the homeless community hoping to identify the man. Meanwhile, the sheriff's department is urging people to walk and jog in pairs while detectives conduct their search.

Anyone with information about the suspect is asked to call 707-565-2185.

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