For Houstonians who run
I got this e-mail just now. If you run at Memorial Park, please be very careful:From HARRA member Dena Marks:
I have two reasons for sending you this e-mail. I want to warn other runners that there is someone attacking women in Memorial Park, and I also want the help of my fellow runners in catching the attacker.
I am a longtime HARRA member and volunteer (mainly for the AED team) and I was grabbed while running in the park early yesterday morning. It was about 4:30 a.m., and I was in between the 1/4-mile and 1/2-mile markers if you were to turn right as you were facing the tennis center and head toward Memorial Drive. I was inbound toward the tennis center when suddenly I heard someone running behind me (he seemed to appear out of nowhere) and before I knew it, he had grabbed me. Without going into the most disgusting detail, I could tell by the way he grabbed me that he was interested in a sexual assault.
I screamed and wrested myself from his grip, and I turned to look at him, so I can provide a description. (By the way, as I ran away from him, he started running in the other direction, crossing Memorial Loop and heading toward I-10 and the polo fields.)
He was about 5'5" or 5'6", and I would estimate he weighs between 140 and 150 lbs. He appeared to be Hispanic, with olive skin, straight, medium-length black hair... that was parted on the side, as I recall, and a full black mustache. He appeared to be in his 30's... maybe 40's. He was wearing a long, olive camouflage jacket... by long, I mean it came down to about mid-thigh. I recall that very clearly. As for his pants, I think he was wearing khaki carpenter-type pants. I do not remember what kind of shoes he was wearing, but I am pretty sure he was wearing black vinyl or leather gloves with some padding or insulation. I didn't notice any tattoos or scars, but he was pretty covered up as it was quite chilly.
I already have sent warnings to other running buddies about this, and the information I'm receiving back leads me to believe that this guy hangs out in the park all the time. Someone told me they saw him a week ago.. heading from the fitness center/pool area into the bushes. When I saw him, I immediately thought he fit the description of a guy who attacked another woman between where I was and the fountains close to Memorial Drive. After that description was circulated, a couple of my running buddies thought they saw him on the road that leads from the 610 feeder to the polo grounds. He has been spotted several times.
This leads me to believe he may strike again, and while he may not target me because I fought him and made such a ruckus, I don't want him to attack anyone else! I reported the attack to police, of course, and the case number is 174090705-E. I mention that because if anybody sees this guy and wants to call HPD, they can tell police they believe he was the guy involved in that case.
The detective working the case is named David Cole. If anybody sees this guy or has any information regarding him, I would ask that they also please call me at 832-567-8843, or e-mail me at denamarks@houston.rr.com.
Thanks!
Dena
Please be careful if you're running at Memorial Park, and if you know anyone who runs there in the early morning hours, please pass on the word to them.
I have two reasons for sending you this e-mail. I want to warn other runners that there is someone attacking women in Memorial Park, and I also want the help of my fellow runners in catching the attacker.
I am a longtime HARRA member and volunteer (mainly for the AED team) and I was grabbed while running in the park early yesterday morning. It was about 4:30 a.m., and I was in between the 1/4-mile and 1/2-mile markers if you were to turn right as you were facing the tennis center and head toward Memorial Drive. I was inbound toward the tennis center when suddenly I heard someone running behind me (he seemed to appear out of nowhere) and before I knew it, he had grabbed me. Without going into the most disgusting detail, I could tell by the way he grabbed me that he was interested in a sexual assault.
I screamed and wrested myself from his grip, and I turned to look at him, so I can provide a description. (By the way, as I ran away from him, he started running in the other direction, crossing Memorial Loop and heading toward I-10 and the polo fields.)
He was about 5'5" or 5'6", and I would estimate he weighs between 140 and 150 lbs. He appeared to be Hispanic, with olive skin, straight, medium-length black hair... that was parted on the side, as I recall, and a full black mustache. He appeared to be in his 30's... maybe 40's. He was wearing a long, olive camouflage jacket... by long, I mean it came down to about mid-thigh. I recall that very clearly. As for his pants, I think he was wearing khaki carpenter-type pants. I do not remember what kind of shoes he was wearing, but I am pretty sure he was wearing black vinyl or leather gloves with some padding or insulation. I didn't notice any tattoos or scars, but he was pretty covered up as it was quite chilly.
I already have sent warnings to other running buddies about this, and the information I'm receiving back leads me to believe that this guy hangs out in the park all the time. Someone told me they saw him a week ago.. heading from the fitness center/pool area into the bushes. When I saw him, I immediately thought he fit the description of a guy who attacked another woman between where I was and the fountains close to Memorial Drive. After that description was circulated, a couple of my running buddies thought they saw him on the road that leads from the 610 feeder to the polo grounds. He has been spotted several times.
This leads me to believe he may strike again, and while he may not target me because I fought him and made such a ruckus, I don't want him to attack anyone else! I reported the attack to police, of course, and the case number is 174090705-E. I mention that because if anybody sees this guy and wants to call HPD, they can tell police they believe he was the guy involved in that case.
The detective working the case is named David Cole. If anybody sees this guy or has any information regarding him, I would ask that they also please call me at 832-567-8843, or e-mail me at denamarks@houston.rr.com.
Thanks!
Dena
Please be careful if you're running at Memorial Park, and if you know anyone who runs there in the early morning hours, please pass on the word to them.