BAYTOWN, Texas – Police in Baytown are searching for a predator who they say sexually assaulted a 50-year-old woman while she was walking in the park on Thursday.
Police said the woman was attacked around 11:25 a.m. on a trail at Jenkins Park located in the 4300 block of Crosby Cedar Bayou Road.
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“This is unacceptable and will not be tolerated in Baytown,” Chief John Stringer said.
Upon arrival, officers said they contacted the victim, who stated she was walking the trails and was sexually assaulted by a man. Police said they don’t have an exact description of the man. The man reportedly fled the scene on foot.
“She was able to get away from the assailant and called the police. We were able to get there, make sure she got aid, medical attention, and then we began our investigation and we were able to locate the scene,” Stringer said.
Evelyn Robinson said she enjoys taking her dog to the park and couldn’t believe the news.
“That’s very scary because I actually had no idea until you told me about it,” Robinson said.
The chief said it’s important to be aware of your surroundings, let someone know if you go somewhere, share your location and use the buddy system.
“There is safety in numbers, and it’s a whole lot more difficult to assault or take somebody if you have to deal with more than one person at a time. It acts as a deterrent,” he said.
The chief said the department also offers classes through its Rape Aggression Defense Program.
“As a prior instructor of the program, it’s RAD for short, I can tell you that it’s an effective program. It empowers women, it gives them the ability to be confident in their own power and the ability to survive an attack anytime,” he said.
It’s a key step Robinson already uses.
“I always stay in a public area. I go no further than the dog park,” she says.
Dwayne Byrd said safety is key. He teaches his children to be aware of their surroundings and self-defense.
“I told them to use their keys if someone comes at them. Move around and scream for help,” Byrd said.
Stringer said the investigation is ongoing. The department is working leads on the case and hopes something will pan out.
“We are going to find this person and we are going to make sure they are prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law,” Stringer said.
Officers said the victim was transported to a local hospital to be treated for the injuries she sustained during the assault. Detectives, crime scene investigators, and K-9 units were called to the scene and are investigating the incident.
Anyone with information on this incident is urged to contact Baytown PD at (281) 422-8371 or Baytown Crime Stoppers. You can call or fill out an online form – all anonymously. You will be given a unique code. Call Baytown Crime Stoppers at (281) 427-TIPS (8477) or download the P3 Tips app on Apple Store or Google Play.