Woman sexually assaulted while walking on trail in St. Catharines

Niagara police are searching for a man in his 30s after a woman was sexually assaulted while walking on a trail in St. Catharines.

Police say it happened between 8:30 a.m. and 9 a.m. Thursday at St. Patrick Park.

A 20-year-old woman was walking northbound on the Terry Fox Trail when a man approached her from behind and sexually assaulted her.

The woman turned around and yelled at the man, who quickly fled the area. He was last seen running south towards Maple St.

The man is described as being white, between 30 and 35 years of age, and was wearing a jacket and blue jeans.

Residents and businesses in the area are being asked to check surveillance cameras for footage of the suspect or anything suspicious around the time of the incident.

The park is bordered by Maple St., Catherine St., Russell Ave. and Woodland Ave.

Anyone with information is asked to contact Det. Cst. Matthew Catherwood at 905-688-4111, ext. 9399.