The Starkville Police Department is investigating a reported attack and attempted sexual assault of a non-Mississippi State University affliated female jogger on University Drive Monday at 5:15 a.m., a news release said.
Thomas Bourgeois, dean of students, said in the news release safety should always be a top priority.
“Students should take every precaution for their personal safety and be alert to their surroundings at all times,” he said. “It is a good idea to have a ‘buddy’ along and to let someone know where you’ll be.”
The suspect, a dark-skinned, black male, is college-aged. He had a mustache and medium-length black hair and was wearing a gray hooded sweatshirt and dark jeans when he was last seen running east on University Drive toward the MSU campus, a Starkville Police Department news release said.
The SPD is working with the Mississippi State University Police Department to seek the public’s help in identifying the suspect.
The victim said she was jogging on University Drive in the vicinity of Jarnigan Street when she noticed a black male wearing a gray hooded sweatshirt coming off Jarnigan Street. He ran after her and attacked her at the bridge on University Drive, forcing her under the bridge where he attempted to sexually assault her, the news release said.
The victim escaped from her attacker and was not seriously injured during the struggle. After her escape, she flagged down a passerby who drove her to the SPD where she reported the crime, the news release said.
Anyone with information about the suspect involved in the incident is encouraged to contact the SPD at 323-4131, the Golden Triangle Crime Stoppers at 1-800-530-7151 or the MSU campus police at 325-2121.