City police are looking for a man who allegedly wielded a boxcutter and raped a jogger near Fort Hale dog park Saturday morning.
A press release posted to the police department’s X account on Saturday afternoon stated that, on Saturday, city police received a report that someone had been sexually assaulted while jogging on a trail south of Fort Hale dog park at 408 Townsend Ave. The incident occurred approximately between the times of 7:30 a.m. and 8:15 a.m.
The victim described a man who was around 5′6″, medium build, late 30s or early 40s in age, wearing a blue patterned polo shirt, gray work pants, and brown dress shoes. “He had dark brown/black cropped hair with a short beard and a possible rash around his mouth. He was wielding a silver box cutter with a silver blade and spoke with broken English.” He was last seen walking north on the trail back towards the park.
On Monday, Police Chief Karl Jacobson said that city police are going through camera footage, interviewing people, and looking for the suspect. The department has also put increased patrols in the area, and is looking into installing cameras on the running trail.
Jacobson added that the department is bringing in an FBI sketch artist to put together a sketch of the suspect.
He urged anyone who may have seen anything unusual in the park at around that time to call the police and provide that information.
Callers may remain anonymous or submit tips anonymously by calling 911, the New Haven police detective division at 203 946‑6304, the anonymous tip line at 1 – 866-888‑8477, or email to ECIC@newhavenct.gov or email SVU Supervising Sgt. Cherelle Carr at CCarr@newhavenct.gov.