HUNTERSVILLE, N.C. — Police have released a sketch of the man accused of pulling a woman out of her car and trying to sexually assault her.
The attack happened Tuesday night at the Reese Boulevard circle in Huntersville. Police said a woman was in her car with her window rolled down when a man reached inside, pulled her out and tried to sexually assault her. She bit him and used pepper spray, and he ran away, investigators said.
The Reese Boulevard circle is used by hundreds of people every evening for exercise.
On Wednesday detectives talked with hundreds of people in the area. Officers handed out safety fliers and asking them to be careful.
"It always makes you think you twice. You always need to be aware of your surroundings," said cyclist Dawn Alligood.
Eyewitness News asked cyclist Jane Cacchione what she was thinking when detectives told her about the attempted assault.
"Awareness," she responded. "Just really paying attention to what's going on out here. There are a ton of people out here. And there's a lot of single women out here that are running or walking by themselves."
Many women told Eyewitness News they always felt safe there because there's a lot of traffic, the roads are wide and the area is well-lit at night.
"I think it's something (women) always, always have to keep on our radar," Cacchione said. "No matter what we're doing, or where we are. It's a little scary, to think about that happening out here."