Woman pushing stroller dragged from park trail, assaulted

ALPHARETTA, Ga. — Police in Alpharetta are stepping up patrols in a park after they said a man grabbed and assaulted a woman pushing her child in a stroller.

Investigators told Channel 2’s Tom Regan that the woman fought off her attacker.

“I’m just in shock because I come here with my kids and it's all little kids and families,” mother Perla Brito told Regan.

Brito, like other mothers Regan talked with Wednesday, said they were stunned to hear of the daytime assault along a trail in Wills Park late Tuesday morning.

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Police said the woman was approached by a man with a knife who pulled her off the trial.

“(He) forced her up against one of the building near the equestrian center, attempting to sexually assault the victim,” Alpharetta Public Safety Director John Robinson said.

Investigators said the man pepper sprayed the victim in the face as she fought him off.

“She elbowed and kicked and screamed just like she should have, and just did a fantastic job and because some folks ... were close by, he was not successful and fled the scene,” Robinson said.

Robinson said this is the first time he's heard of such an attack in an Alpharetta park. He said the parks are safe, and for the time being, they will get additional patrols as they look for the assailant.

“Does that make you feel a little more comfortable?” Regan asked Brito.

“It does, but I’m still not going to walk around there anymore,” Brito said.

Police said the mother had two cuts on her arm from the man's knife. The child was not hurt in the incident. Investigators said they are working with the Georgia Bureau of Investigation to develop a sketch of the suspect.

Cox Media Group