Jogger raped in Fairmount Park

A 34-year-old woman who was about to go jogging Tuesday night in the Wissahickon Creek Valley section of Fairmount Park was forced into nearby brush and raped, police said yesterday.

Special Victims Unit Capt. John Darby said that about 6:30 p.m. the woman was standing by her car in a parking lot at Bells Mill Road and Forbidden Drive in Chestnut Hill when a man stepped behind her and held an object to her back.

The man claimed he had a gun and told the jogger not to scream before taking her into an area of heavy brush near the creek, Darby said.

"The investigation is continuing," Darby said at a news conference, "but we felt it was important that the public be aware."

The victim was unable to distinguish her attacker's height, weight or race but described his voice as "gruff" and said that he was wearing gardening gloves, dirty jeans and brown work boots. The victim told police that she did not see a weapon. She also said that she detected the smell of garlic on her attacker's breath.

Following the attack, the victim drove herself to Chestnut Hill Hospital and was treated and released. Darby said that police received the report from the hospital about 7 p.m. but have been unable to interview the distraught victim.

"It's got us concerned, and it's got our focus," Darby said. "We are aggressively pursuing this case."

Darby said there would be an increased police presence to ensure safety in the area, which is heavily used by joggers. Police also will be available for anyone with information about the attack.

He said it was too early for police to link this rape with previous ones in the Fairmount Park area.

Tipsters can contact the Special Victims Unit anonymously at 215-685-3251, -3252 or -3265.